VI 



TOONGNA 



The belief in an evil spirit is in all probability as 

 old as the inhabitated world. It seems to be one of 

 those traditions that has descended with man from 

 the most remote times, not having lost but having 

 gained strength through its long ages of descent. 

 No matter where one may travel, he finds the ma- 

 jority of mankind firm believers in such a spirit. 



Even here in the far North among the Polarites 

 there is such a belief. "Toongna," the evil one, is 

 supposed to be the adversary of man, and to him is 

 ascribed all the misfortunes that afflict the people. 

 Some he makes sick, while others he causes to be 

 unfortunate in their undertakings. If a mother loses 

 her new-born babe, Toongna was at the bottom of 

 the misfortune, and she is placed under the super- 

 stitious ban called "Karookto," not being allowed 

 to mingle with the rest of the villagers for a number 

 of months, and the same tribal law is enforced in 

 all families where death has occurred. Should a 

 hunting party visit the interior in quest of deer and 

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