Ethnological Sketch of the Angmagsalik Eskimo. 87 



happened that a man, Saninminak the angekok, during his illness, 

 sent to fetch the lock he had once allowed me to cut off, as he 

 was afraid that otherwise he would die. 



In order nol to arouse anger or dissatisfaction, I was often 

 obliged to 'take away sicknesses' from people by laying my hand 

 on their head and then making a movement as if I were throwing 

 away something, while the nearest of kin uttered the wish that 

 there might be 'power' in my action. 



Charms. — Other supernatural means employed, besides amulets 

 and the customs observed in order to secure a long life, are sekatit, 

 i. e. charms and chants. 



Charms are used during sickness and famine in order to ward 

 off dangers. They can also be used as a defence against foes, 

 having the power to inflict disease, injury or death upon them. 

 The manner in which they are used can be seen from tales 3, 7, 

 21, 24, 25. 



The charms are of great antiquity, and are as a general rule 

 handed down from one generation to the other by sale. They are 

 most effective the first time they are used, and little by little they 

 loose their power; hence they must not be used except in times 

 of danger, or when they are transferred to another. When the 

 transference takes place, none but the buyer and seller may be pre- 

 sent, and in order that they may have effect, they must be paid 

 immediately, and dearly paid too, if there is to be any power in 

 them; but then they can do the possessor much benefit. The pay- 

 ment may consist e. g. of dart points, lance points, or other costly 

 iron work. As they are much reluctant to use the charms without 

 absolute necessity, it is extremely difficult to get to hear them. 



Kutuluk has a charm which he once used during an illness and 

 which helped him to recover. The same charm can be used in 

 any danger connected with the hunting and also to ward off fa- 

 mine. Others can also use this charm to harm or kill other people, 

 but, he said, he would not use it for that purpose. 



Uitinak learnt a charm from a man who is now dead and sold 

 it to us (see no. 54). He had only used it once, when he had been 

 ill for 10 days and was at death's door. Four days afterwards he 

 recovered. 



The charms are recited slowly in a low mystic tone, but the 

 words are unintelligible. As far as our experience goes, they all 

 begin with "ya — f/'a". Some of them are short, others long. 



The natives do not conceive of any spirit in connection with 

 the charm, and are ignorant as to how they work; it is only the 



