176 LETTEES ON NATURAL MAGIC. 



It is a curious circumstance that Captain Lyon 

 found among the Esquimaux of Igloolik ventrilo- 

 quists of no mean skill. There is much rivalry 

 among the professors of the art, who do not ex- 

 pose each other's secrets, and their exhibitions 

 derive great importance from the rarity of their 

 occurrence. The following account of one of 

 them is so interesting that we shall give the 

 whole of it in Captain Lyon's words : 



"Amongst our Igloolik acquaintances were 

 two females and a few male wizards, of whom 

 the principal was Toolemak. This personage 

 was cunning and intelligent ; and, whether pro- 

 fessionally, or from his skill in the chase, but 

 perhaps from both reasons, was considered by 

 all the tribe as a man of importance. As I 

 invariably paid great deference to his opinion on 

 all subjects connected with his calling, he freely 

 communicated to me his superior knowledge, and 

 did not scruple to allow of my being present at 

 his interviews with Tornga, or his patron spirit. 

 In consequence of this, I took an early oppor- 

 tunity of requesting my friend to exhibit his skill 

 in my cabin. His old wife was with him, and by 

 much flattery and an accidental display of a 

 glittering knife and some beads, she assisted me 

 in obtaining my request. All light excluded, our 

 sorcerer began chanting to his wife with great 

 vehemence, and she in return answered by sing- 

 ing the Amna-aya, which was not discontinued 

 during the whole ceremony. As far as I cjauld 

 hear, he afterwards began turning himself rapidly 

 round, and in a loud, powerful voice vociferated 

 for Tornga with great impatience, at the same 

 time blowing and snorting like a walrus. His 

 noise, impatience, and agitation increased every 



