Ethnological Sketch of the Angmagsalik Eskimo. 23 



Tungujortit, also called Kigitarnat — bilberry \ {Vaccinium 

 Kugdlungasit, also called Sanit — bilberry leaves/ uliginosum), 

 Ivsormitait, also called Tungusungitit — Polygonum viviparum. 



The sea-weed kinds eaten are: 



Imertigkat — red seaweed, 



Misarkat — clover seaweed, 



Suvdluitit — Alaria Pylaii, 



Miserarnat — bladder-weed (Fucus vesiculosus). 



It should also be mentioned that fine hair-like sea-weed is used 

 for cleaning, and that gramineae of various kinds are used to form 

 a padding for boots. 



Not merely the plants given above, but other plants and bushes 

 as well have special names in the language of the natives. This 

 shows that the inhabitants have an eye to other aspects of the 

 vegetable world in their country than material usefulness. It 

 cannot be said, however, that their interest in plants is verj^ keen; 

 the vigorous animal life along their coasts has monopolised their 

 interest to such an extent that their attention has been diverted 

 from the comparatively inconspicuous and scanty plant-life of their 

 country. 



Animals. — The dog is their only domestic animal, and it is 

 used for driving sledges. It is of medium size, with a somewhat 

 pointed head and erect ears, and a very curly tail. The fur is thick, 

 and as a general rule, white with a few black or brown spots. 

 Quite white dogs with a more rounded head are by no means rare. 



The chief hunting animals are the same kinds of seals which 

 are found on the West coast, except that here the bearded seal and 

 harbour seal are comparatively more numerous. The latter, 

 like the ringed seal, is found here the whole year round, whereas 

 the crested seal and the Greenland seal only come at certain sea- 

 sons of the year. The last-named seal is said to have diminished 

 considerably in numbers^). 



Narwhals are common at the end of winter and in spring, at 

 which time they go in and out of the fjords. 



Walruses are rare. Whales, which formerly were very nume- 

 rous, are now extremely rare. 



The polar-bear is common and makes his appearance periodically 

 with the drift-ice, and in winters when there is not much ice, he will not 

 come in great numbers. The natives say that when they first come 



^j In spring one sometimes comes across dead seals on the drift-ice with the 

 skin and hlubber removed. 



