KALOPALING 



and arms as they swim. In summer they like to 

 come out and bask on the rocks, but in winter they 

 sit along the edge of the ice or else stay under 

 water. 



They often chase the hunters, so the most cour- 

 ageous of the men try to kill them whenever they 

 can get near enough. When the Kalopaling 

 sits sleeping, the hunter comes up very cautiously 

 and throws a walrus harpoon into him. Then he 

 shuts his eyes tight until the Kalopaling is dead, 

 otherwise the hunter's boat would be capsized and 

 he be drowned. They dare not eat the flesh of 

 the creatures, for it is poisonous; but the dogs 

 eat it. 



One time an old woman and her grandson were 

 living alone in a small hut. They had no men to 

 hunt for them and they were very poor. Once 

 in a while, but not often, some of the Inuit took 

 pity on them and brought them seal's meat, and 

 blubber for their lamp. 



One day the boy was so hungry that he cried 

 aloud. His grandmother told him to be quiet, 

 but he cried the harder. She became vexed with 

 him and cried out, " Ho, Kalopaling, come and 

 take this fretful boy away! " 



At once the door opened and Kalopaling came 

 hobbling in on his clumsy feet, which were made 



15 



