CUSTOMS OF THE ESKIMOS. 167 



insufficiently strong for hunting purposes, his favor is 

 invoked. 



Communication with the spirits is usually held through 

 wizards or " angokokes," who are looked upon as wise 

 men by the people, and are appointed to fulfil this func- 

 tion. They are ordained for their sacred calling when 

 youths, and as a distinguishing mark of their profession 

 wear upon their backs a string of ornaments, mostly 

 made of seal or deer-skin. These are given them at the 

 various places visited by them in recognition of their 

 office. The angokokes are appointed because of their 

 qualifications. There may be a number of them in the 

 same community, but some rise to much greater distinc- 

 tion than others. 



These wizards are said to be taught from youth by one 

 of the deputy chief friends, named " Tornat," and some 

 of them are supposed to have great power with the spirits. 



At times, when the people are threatened with famine, or 

 are in distress of any kind, the angokoke is requested 

 to intercede for them. Supposing it is food that is 

 wanted, he arranges for an interview with Tornarsuk, 

 the chief of the devils. In order to do this, the ango- 

 koke, accompanied by one other man, goes down to the 

 water's edge in the early morning at the hour of low 

 tide. Here his companion binds him in a doubled-up 

 position, so that his knees meet his face, and lashes him 

 up with stout thongs so tightly that he is unable to 

 move hand or foot. In this helpless condition his com- 

 panion leaves him, with his walrus harpoon lying by his- 

 side and the rising waters lapping at his feet. What 

 immediately follows only the angokoke knows, but I 

 have been informed by the wizards themselves and 



