620 THE CENTRAL ESKIMO. 



across the path of their pursuers. The ice gave a loud crack. Once 

 more she drew the line, when a crack opened and quickly widened as 

 she passed on. The floe began moving and when the men arrived 

 they could not cross over the wide space of water. Thus the party 

 were saved by the ai't of their angakoq. 



For many days they drifted to and fro, but finally they landed on 

 the island of Sagdlirn, where they took up their abode and became 

 the mothers of the Sagdlirihiut. 



KALOPALING. 



Kalopaliug is a fabulous being that lives in the sea. His body is 

 like that of a human being and he wears clothing made of eider ducks' 

 skins. Therefore he is sometimes called Mitiling (with eider ducks). 

 As these birds have a black back and a white belly, his gown looked 

 speckled all over. His jacket has an enormous hood, which is an 

 object of fear to the Inuit. If a kayak capsizes and the boatman is 

 drowned Kalopaling puts him into this hood. He cannot speak, but 

 can only cry, "Be, be! Be, be!" His feet are very large and look 

 like inflatf.l si'alskin floats. 



The limit lid ii'vc that in olden times there were a great number of 

 Kaiopalit. Imt gradually their number diminished and there are now 

 very few left. They may be seen from the land swimming very 

 rapidly under the water and sometimes rising to the surface. While 

 swimming they make a great noise by splashing with arms and legs. 

 In summer they like to bask on rocks and in winter they sometimes 

 sit on the ice near cracks or at the edge of drifting floes. As they 

 pursue the hunters the most daring men try to kill them whenever 

 they can get near them. Cautiously they a^jproach the sleeping 

 Kalopaling, and as soon as they come near enough they throw the 

 walrus harpoon at him. They must shut their eyes immediately 

 until the Kalopaling is dead, else he will capsize the boat and kill 

 the hunters. The flesh of the Kalopaling is said to be poisonous, but 

 good enough for dog's food. 



An old tradition is handed down which refers to a Kalopaling: 



An old woman lived with her grandson in a small hut. As they 

 had no kinsmen they were very poor. A few Inuit only took pity 

 oh them and brought them seal's meat and blubber for their lamps. 

 Once upon a time they were very hungry and the boy cried. The 

 grandmother told him to be quiet, but as he did not obey she 

 became angry and called Kalopaling to come and take him away- 

 He entered at once and the woman put the boy into the large hood, 

 in which he disajjpeared ahuDst immediately. 



Later on the Inuit were iimn. succissful in sealing and they had 

 an abundance of meat. Tlieii tln' Kiandmother was sorry that she 

 had so raslily given the boy to Kalopaling and wished to see him back 



