Legends and Tales from Angmagsalik. 301 



in order to pray him for rain '). When the angakok came to him 

 and peeped into his house, his wife would be sitting on the plat- 

 form , and to her the angakok would say : "As it is too long since 

 it has rained, I am now coming to Asiak, to pray him to make 

 water". These words were repeated by his wife to Asiak, who sat 

 covered up at the foot end of the platform. Even if he did not feel 

 inclined, and the angakok nevertheless insisted, his wife would at 

 length say: "He made water a little last night as usual". When 

 she shakes the piece of bear skin on which he has sat and made 

 water, so that drops of water come sprinkling down, then it rains ^). 

 Asiak and his wife lower down from up there a kaiak half- 

 jacket, in which they place a mitten which is expected to fill the 

 jacket from the blubber bags of the men. Then they hoist it up again, 

 filled with blubber and other provisions, and on these things they live. 



48. DRUM SONG BY PITIGA. 



Pitiga, who is 28 j^ears old, has been married three times before, but each time 

 only for a short time, namely a couple of months. The two first wives he divorced 

 because they did not keep his boots in order. The third wanted to journey north- 

 wards with her family, and Pitiga Avould not consent to it. One day he saw the 

 wife of Maratuk (the notorious mui'derer) outside the house. Urged by her brother- 

 in-law, Pitiga took her b}^ force and made her his wife, Avhereupon Maratuk challenged 

 him to a drum dance. According to Pitiga, Maratuk had stolen a seal from him. 

 Pitiga sang as follows: — 



"I was afeard when I heard that thou wouldst challenge me 

 to a drum dance! ahl ja\ jal ja\ etc. 



"Thou jeerest at me because thou deemest I am too unskilful! 

 sa\ nal ja ! ja ! ja ! etc. 



"Thou wouldst challenge me to a drum-dance, because I am 

 alone, and thou deemest I am unskilful! ka\ nal jal jal etc. 



"Oh! how forgetful thou art, though! It is very bad to be so 

 forgetful! hal val jal jal etc. 



The Angmagsaliks have not the slightest motive for desiring rain, as their 

 only means of subsistence is hunting. They know no other countrj' but their 

 OAvn, Avhere the natural conditions differ widely from those of countries whose 

 inhabitants live on the products of the land. They would therefore not be 

 able to understand Avhy other peoples should wish for rain. This legend must 

 therefore have arisen in a district with quite other natural conditions, and 

 where the mode of subsistence of the people must have been quite different 

 from that in Arctic countries. 



The Central Eskimo say that lightning, thunder, and rain are performed bj^ 

 three sisters: "the third sister makes the rainj by urinating". (Boas: The 

 Central Eskimo p. 600). 



