Ethnological Sketch of tlie Angmagsalik Eskimo. 147 



together into a short space, and exaggerated things, that happened 

 during the course of many years. It is, however, by no means 

 uncommon for people in drum-matches to accuse one another of 

 attempted murder. 



Suicide. — It may seem at first sight remarkable that suicides are 

 not infrequent among the Angmagsaliks, who entertain such fear of 

 death, though especially when brought about by inner or secret 

 causes. This paradox may, however, be explained by the courage 

 and the contempt for death which they exhibit in the open dangers 

 which they incur well-nigh daily in the pursuit of their livelihood. 



As has already been mentioned, sickness is the most common 

 motive for suicide, the sick man getting tired of his suffering. 

 However, examples of suicide from other motives are not unknown. 



When Tigajafs sister, after having lived for many years up at 

 Kialinek, returned to Angmagsalik, she went to live with strangers, 

 instead of living at home with her father. This grieved him so, 

 that he lay down to sleep in the open air on a cold night and 

 thus brought about his death. 



A man reproached his mother-in-law with being so old that she 

 was no longer any use in the world, and he told her he could not 

 understand why she did not die. After that she went down to the 

 sea-shore and drowned herself. 



Upakangitek accompanied his father to the shore where he 

 went into a kaiak. When he had got some distance from land, 

 the son observed how he purposely caused the kaiak to capsize. 

 Before any kaiak could get out to him, he had already drowned. 



On the West coast of Greenland when anyone, on account of 

 wrongs he has suffered, turns his back on society, people believe 

 that he obtains supernatural bodily powers and the properties of a 

 ghost. A person of this kind is called kivitok. The East Green- 

 landers said that among them kivitoks were unknown; they had 

 heard about them, but onh^ from the West coast. 



Conclusion. — It will appear from the above description of the 

 Angmagsaliks that they are smart, clever, and understand how to turn 

 to good account the things which fall into their possession. In their 

 hunting expeditions they display endurance and audacity. They are 

 lively, and are endowed with considerable power of dissimulation. They 

 are polite and accommodating in their behaviour to one another, 

 but at the same time careful not to offend, reserved, and suspicious. 

 Deeper feelings, such as love, devotion, or real friendship are 

 seldom met with among them. 



