THE ESKIMOS : THEIR RELIGION 39 



The Eskimos thus not only attribute to Sedna 

 the creation of the sea animals named, but they also 

 believe that she is the cause of the storms which so 

 often sweep over their icy land and prevent them 

 from successfully pursuing their hunting expeditions. 

 An annual festival known as the Sedna Ceremony 

 is celebrated in the autumn. The object of this is, 

 as the people say, " to order and command that 

 there shall be no more wind, and that the weather 

 shall be only such as shall go to the making of a 

 successful hunting season." 



There seem to be two parts of the festival, one 

 for the maiming or driving away of Sedna, the other 

 consisting of rejoicing in the accomplishment of this 

 object. 



In this ceremony the angakoet play an important 

 part. 



Proceedings commence in a tent by a line being 

 coiled upon the floor in such a manner that the 

 upper part of the coil forms a small circular hole. 

 Over this hole two angakoet stand, one holding a 

 harpoon, and the other the line which is attached 

 to the harpoon. 



Another angakok, seated in another part of 

 the tent, sings an enticing song with the object 

 of alluring Sedna from the under world. Her 

 arrival is known by a blowing noise, and the anga 

 kok then drives the harpoon into his victim, who, 

 though grievously wounded, manages to escape, and 



