142 G- Holm. 



Altogether, the Angmagsaliks are very polite, forbearing and accomo- 

 dating in their behaviour towards one another. We have even seen 

 instances of deeper feelings such as devotion.and love between relations. 



The following incident will serve as an instance of the devo- 

 tion of a brother to his sister. 



Adliortortok, who lived at Norajik far down the Angmagsalik 

 fjord, had caught a narwhal. As is usual under such circumstances, 

 the inmates of the house, the neighbours and all the strangers who 

 came on visits, received from him large supplies of the food. 



Id this there was nothing unusual; they will do the same for 

 him again. But the point is that, though in the course of the 

 winter there had been no communication between Norajik and 

 Sermilik, he undertook a very long and fatiguing journey to Ser- 

 milik, where his married sister lived, carrying a large parcel of 

 meat by means of a strap round his forehead. He was afraid that she 

 might suffer want while he himself had more than he could do 

 with. He covered a distance of about 32 miles over very difficult 

 country in the teeth of a biting north wind. Although it was towards 

 evening when he arrived at our place — about half-way — he said 

 he had no time to stay, but passed on with darkness coming on. 



Their politeness often passes into falseness. Even if a person 

 had just been with us slandering another, he showed it neither by 

 word nor look when he happened to meet him outside. They re- 

 frain from every form of open offence, such as abuse or blows. 

 The only exception are the drum-matches, where they abuse one 

 another and tr}^ to hold each other up to ridicule as much as pos- 

 sible. But as soon as the performance is over, they can behave to 

 each other as if they were the best friends in the world. 



The natives often show great fear of one another. The anga- 

 kut Avgo and Maratuk were feared and hated by all, because they 

 killed people, robbed people of their souls, and in fact took any- 

 thing they had a mind to. 



The only good point they could find in Augo was his affection 

 for his children. He had two divorced wives, each with two 

 children, whom he went to see now and then. Even Avgo and 

 Maraiuk were not on the best footing with each other. The latter 

 betrayed Avgo to us without cause as a thief and liar, and when 

 Avgo fell ill, he said he might as well go home and drown himself. 

 Having committed several crimes, this pair no longer felt themselves 

 safe at Angmagsalik, and so in winter they travelled with their 

 whole family by sledge to Sermiligak. 



Amongst the inhabitants here was one Utiiak, who lived in 

 mortal dread of the vengeance of the angakut. In his youth he 



