A TBEASTJEY OF ESKIMO TALES 



and dry, the roof being supported by the whale's 

 spine, while its ribs formed the walls. The lamp 

 was supplied from a tube that extended along the 

 whale's backbone, from which oil constantly but 

 slowly dripped into the lamp. 



When Raven stepped in, the woman started 

 up in alarm and cried out, " How came you here? 

 You are the first man who ever came into my 

 house." 



" I came in through the whale's throat," said 

 Raven as politely as he knew how, for the woman 

 was young and fair to look upon. Moreover, he 

 had already guessed that she was the inua or 

 spirit of the whale. " I should like 'to stay 

 a while." 



" As you cannot get out at present, it seems 

 that you will have to stay. Whether you like it, 

 or whether I like it, you appear to be my guest, 

 so I must prepare food for you." 



She brought food which she served with berries 

 and oil. " These are berries which I gathered 

 last summer," she said. 



For four days he remained there as the guest 

 of the whale's spirit, and found it a very pleasant 

 experience; but he continually wondered what 

 the tube was that ran along the roof of the house. 

 Whenever the spirit woman left the room she 



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