194 THE HUDSON BAY ESKIMO. 



it accompanies. As this is an evil spirit its good oifices and assistance 

 can be obtained by i>roi)itiation only. The pei'son strives to keep the 

 good will of the evil spirit by offerings of food, water, and clothing. 



The spirit is often in a material form in the shape of a doll, carried 

 somewhere about the i)ersou. If it is wanted to insure success in the 

 chase, it is carried in the bag containing the ammunition. 



When an individual fails to overcome the obstacles in his path the 

 misfortune is attributed to the evil wrought by his attending spirit, 

 whose good will must be invoked. If the spirit prove stubborn and re- 

 luctant to grant the needed assistance the person sometimes becomes 

 angry with it and inflicts a serious chastisement upon it, deprives it of 

 food, or strips it of its garments, until after a time it proves less refrac- 

 tory and yields obedience to its master. It often happens that the 

 person is unable to control the influence of the evil-disposed spirit and 

 the only way is to give it to some person without his knowledge. The 

 latter becomes Immediately under the control of the spirit, and the 

 former, released from its baleful effects, is able successfidly to prose- 

 cute the affairs of life. In the course of time the person generally re- 

 lents and takes back the spirit he gave to another. The jierson on 

 whom the spirit has been imposed should know nothing of it lest he 

 should refuse to accept it. It is often given in the form of a bundle of 

 clothing. It is supposed that if in hunting somebody merely takes the 

 bag to hang it up the influence will pass to him. The spirit is sup- 

 posed to be able to exert its influence only when carried by some ob- 

 ject having life. Hence the person may cast it away for a time, and 

 dui'ing that period it remains inert. 



Besides this class of spirits, there are the spirits of the sea, the 

 land, the sky (for be it understood that the Eskimo know nothing of 

 the air), the winds, the clouds, and everything in uatui-e. Every cove 

 of the seashore, every point, island, and prominent rock has its guard- 

 ian spirit. All are of the malignant type and to be propitiated only 

 by acceptable offerings ii-om persons who desire to visit the locality 

 where it is supposed to reside. Of course some of the spirits are more 

 powerful than others, and these are more to be dreaded than those 

 able to inflict less harm. 



These minor spirits are under the control of the great spirit, whose 

 name is "Tung ak." This one great spirit is more powerful than all 

 the rest besides. The lesser spirits are immediately under his control 

 and ever ready to obey his command. The shaman (or conjurer) alone 

 is supposed to be able to deal with the Tung ak. WhOe the shaman 

 does not profess to be superior to the Tung ak, he is able to enlist his 

 assistance and thus be able to control all the undertakings Ms profes- 

 sion may call for. 



This Tung ak is nothing more or less than death, which ever seeks 

 to torment and harass the lives of people that their spirits may go to 

 dwell with him. 



