310 H. Hink. 



il briefly, the same traits of human nature, the same passions, the 

 same circumstances of Hfe which we find elsewhere appear also in 

 these tales and legends in another form, a form so strange and so 

 foreign that the true meaning is frequently obscured. 



To be sure these redeeming features are not altogether lacking 

 in the Eastern tales; it is obvious, however, that the narratives show 

 a tendency to dwell on matters calculated to arouse terror or disgust. 

 They thus acquire for many of us a predominating tinge of ghast- 

 liness and gloom , which is but too likely to encourage people in 

 their unfavourable notions of what thej^ call the 'savage' Eskimo. 

 But the true explanation of the difference seems to be in the fact 

 that the West Greenland Eskimo had access to a greater number of 

 gifted narrators, who were to give the tales an artistic form. As far 

 as the genuineness of the traditions and their presumptive historical 

 value is concerned, it seems that the East Greenland legends deserve 

 to have the preference. 



With regard to the matter of which the Eskimo legends are 

 .composed, it should be pointed out that, besides being steeped in the 

 native conceptions of the supernatural, they consist of certain stereo- 

 typed legendary materials, viz. fixed conceptions, names, scenes, 

 customs, characters etc., which are found recurring, variously dis- 

 posed, in diff'erent legends. Sometimes even a series of events or 

 legendary elements have been transferred bodily from one legend to 

 another. 



How this applies in individual cases will be seen from the com- 

 ments on the several tales in the following list. It will be seen that 

 out of the 54 numbers, 12 or 14 may be regarded as identical with 

 tales from other Eskimo lands, namely the West coast of Greenland, 

 another 12 or 14 merely have elements in common with the latter, 

 and, finally, 16 may be regarded as more or less peculiar to Ang- 

 magsalik, though keeping within the same original sphere of con- 

 ception as the Eskimo legends in general. Finally 4 numbers give 

 in a more descriptive form a presentation of certain important 

 notions, such as the celestial bodies, namely the moon, certain 

 animals either fabulous, or extinct in Angmagsalik, and, lastly, the 

 angakok's apprenticeship. The remainder consists of 3 satirical 

 songs, two ordinary songs, two magic chants, and 1 magic charm. 

 The last four songs are given in the Greenlandic tongue; the magic 

 charm in words the significance of which is no longer known. 



Several of the West Greenland tales have assumed a new value 

 for me when 1 found that they recurred on the East coast; it having 

 previously been uncertain whether they were common to Green- 

 land as a whole or of a merelv local character. 



