78 G. Holm. 



married Perkitigsak's former 'second wife', who iiad run away from 

 him to Norajik, because he was ill and people supposed he was 

 going mad. Early in May Ukutiak came to our place. We heard 

 him wailing and saw him approaching the Eskimo tent with a 

 staggering gait, like one paralysed with grief. The customary 

 howling and lamentations now commenced; for it was the first 

 time he had seen these people after the death. On his departure, 

 the people displayed their sympathy by giving him presents of 

 eatables. Ukutiak then came up to me, staggering and groaning 

 fearfully. On account of his being in mourning, he might not sit 

 anywhere in our house but on the platform. There he sat with 

 drooping head, his face immovable and utterly devoid of expression, 

 groaning every now and then. He told me I must give him cloth 

 for a bonnet, because when he had his anorak on he must always 

 have his head covered, and he might not look up at the sun before 

 he had caught a seal or another animal. He also asked me to 

 give him some matches, because he might not make fire with the 

 fire-making apparatus before he had moved into a new house; for 

 he had been accustomed to the assistance of his wife in pressing 

 down the drill while he made it revolve by means of the cord. He 

 must also have toys for the child, for it had not yet got used to 

 its new mother, and therefore cried a good deal. I was able to 

 grant this last request, but when I told him I could not give him 

 cloth for a bonnet, he began to dilate on how much he had wept 

 after his wife's death, and wound up by asking whether 'we did not 

 pity him, who was now left all alone'? He told us what a hard 

 time he had of it. Besides the observances just mentioned, he 

 might not eat the entrails, head, and paws of seals, nor yet smaller 

 sea animals, seaweed etc. He might not eat or drink anything in 

 the open air, not even water, and he might not carry anything 

 down to the shore. 



Shortly after he begged for one of the books from our book- 

 case. I found myself obliged to refuse this request also, but managed 

 to content him with some large coloured pictures. He spoke of his 

 new wife in terms of high praise. Among other good qualities, she 

 was a deft needlewoman and had made the clothes he was wearing 

 now. Of course all the prescribed observances were strictly kept 

 during his visit; but he informed us that next time he came to us, 

 there was nothing to prevent him smiling, for now he had received 

 a present from me. 



His stepson, Pisak, the son of the deceased, also came to see 

 me, likewise wearing new clothes, but not groaning. He wanted to 

 sell me some trash which I refused lo buy. He then called my 



