BOAS] RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES. gQg 



all the men aud women crying," Hit! lirr!" from botli cnnu-rs of the 

 mouth. Then they go to the woman's hut, where tli<\- stay durino- 

 the ensuing night. The feast is frequently celelnatrd hv all the 

 tribes of Davis and Hudson Strait, and even independently of the 

 great feast described above. 



The day after, the men freqiiently join in a shooting match. A 

 target is set up, at which they shoot their arrows. As soon as a 

 man hits, the women, who stand looking on, rush forward and rub 

 noses with him. 



If a stranger unknown to the inhabitants of a settlement arrives on 

 a visit he is welcomed by the celebration of a great feast. Among 

 the southeastern tribes the natives arrange themselves in a row, one 

 man standing in front of it. The stranger approaches slowly, his 

 arms folded and his head inclined toward the right side. Then the 

 native strikes him with all his strength on the right cheek and in his 

 turn inclines his head awaiting the stranger's blow (tigluiqdjung). 

 While this is going on the other men are playing at ball and singing 

 (igdlukitaqtung). Thus they continue until one of the combatants 

 is vanquished. 



The ceremonies of greeting among the western tribes are similar 

 to those of the eastern, but in addition "boxing, wrestling, and knife 

 testing" are mentioned by travelers who have visited them. In 

 Davis Strait and probably in all the (jther countries the game of 

 "hook and criMik" is always j^layed on the arrival of a stranger 

 (pakijuini jait nil-). Two men sit down on a large skin, after having 

 stripped thf Tipper part of their bodies, and each tries to stretch out 

 the bent arm of the other. These games are sometimes dangerous, 

 as the victor has the right to kill his adversary; but generally the 

 feast ends peaceably. The ceremonies of the western tribes in greet- 

 ing a stranger are much feared by their eastern neighbors and there- 

 fore intercourse is somewhat restricted. The meaning of the duel, 

 according to the natives themselves, is ' ' that the two men in meeting 

 wish to know which of them is the better man." The similarity of 

 these ceremonies with those of Greenland, where the game of hook 

 and crook and wrestling matches have been customary, is quite strik- 

 ing, as is that of the explanation of these ceremonies. 



The word for greeting on Davis Strait and Hudson Strait, is Ass- 

 ojutidlin? (Are you quite well?) and the answer, Tabaujuradlu 

 ( Very well). The word Taima! which is used in Hudson Strait, and 

 Manetaima I of the Netchillirmiut seem to be similar to our Halluol 

 The Ukusiksalirmiut say Ilaga! (My friend!) 



CUSTOMS AND REGULATIONS CONCERNING BIRTH. SICKNESS. AND DEATH. 



I have mentioned that it is extremely difficult to find out the innu- 

 merable regulations connected with the religious ideas and customs 

 6 ETH- — 39 



