Sketches From Oldest America 



Their other form of amusement is story-telling. 

 The stories may be old, but that makes no difference 

 to an Inupash, he is one of the most attentive 

 listeners, no matter how many times he may have 

 heard the same tale before. The repetition has the 

 advantage of fixing the story in the minds of the 

 people, enabling them to retain and pass down their 

 traditions from one generation to another for an 

 immensely long period of time. Outside of their 

 traditions, their stories deal largely with the super- 

 natural in the form of ghosts and fairies. Oc- 

 casionally, one may hear a fable that apparently has 

 a moral attached. The following are a few of the 

 stories that mothers interest their children with, 

 and that are eagerly listened to by the older ones 

 also : — 



Allugua 



Little Allugua had been born blind. It had 

 worried his father and mother greatly, for they 

 knew when he grew to manhood he would not be 

 able to hunt and support himself. They hoped as 

 he grew older he might yet receive his eyesight, 

 although both eyes were white and sightless. At 

 last when he became seven or eight years of age his 

 parents gave up all hope. 



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