170 CKUISE OF THE NEPTUNE 



woman of a miscarriage, and is the source of the greatest 

 calamities. A woman so unfortunate must confess immediately 

 to the angekok, but as the confession practically ostracizes her 

 for several months, the temptation to conceal her mishap is 

 great. A pregnant woman is debarred from eating several kinds 

 of meat. After childbirth she is unclean for two or three 

 months, and for the first month cannot visit any house in the 

 community. A similar rule applies to women during their 

 menses. A woman who has recently lost a relative must not 

 work on deerskins, pluck ducks, take the hair off sealskins nor 

 mention the names of the animals. When the men are away 

 hunting on the ice the women must not disturb the bedding, as 

 it will make cracks in the ice, and seal-line used in hunting 

 must be cut diagonally for the same reason. When the sun first 

 returns in the spring the children blow out the lamp in the 

 snow-house. During the time that the sun is travelling south 

 cat's-cradle is played by the women and children to entangle 

 the sun in the meshes and prevent it being lost by continuing 

 south ; the cup-and-ball game is played to hasten its return. 



Among the many taboos relating to the killing of animals the 

 following may be mentioned : The bear is under the protection 

 of two goddesses, Angeakatille and Ouhowjawtil, who live in 

 an iceberg. No work must be done for three days after a bear 

 is killed, and the women must not comb their hair, nor disturb 

 the bedding. ISTo cannibal may eat bear flesh, lest it should 

 create a tai-ite for human flesh. The newly-killed seal has its 

 eyes punctured, so that its spirit may not see that it is being 

 taken to the snow-house. When the carcass is brought into the 

 house fresh snow is dipped into the kettle and the water from 

 it is dripped over the seal's mouth. Before going sealing, for the 

 first time on the ice, a fire of shrubs is made, and the clothing 

 and implements of the hunter are thoroughly smoked in it. The 

 key block of the snow-house is at the same time scored in all 

 directions with the knife, to ensure good luck in hunting and to 



