68 A Canadian Arctic Expedition, 1913-18 



a seal. They were always successful in their hunting after this, and brought in 

 rough seals and bearded seals, white fish, rabbits, and caribou. One day their 

 mother said to them, "We have plenty of food now, why don't you go and find 

 wives for yourselves?" "We don't know the country about here," they replied. 

 "Still you can go out and look," their mother said. "Well," said one, "I'll 

 go," and the next morning he went out in the direction of Tapqaq. He saw 

 nothing all day, but towards evening he came to a small house, and walked all 

 round it without seeing any sign of an inhabitant. Finally he stole quietly on 

 to the roof and lifted up a corner of the window and peered down. In the corner 

 was a young girl combing her hair, which hung in a luxuriant black mass about 

 her shoulders. The youth was fascinated and stood watching her until suddenly 

 she looked up and saw him. Starting to her feet she went outside and said to 

 him, "I am glad you have come. Come inside." So they went in and she said 

 to him, "Are you hungry?" "Yes," he replied, "I am," whereupon she brought 

 in some white fish and cooked them for him. After he had finished he said, 

 "How about my staying here tonight?" and she replied, "If you wish." So he 

 stayed and she became his wife. In the morning she wakened him and said, 

 "Wake up, it's time to get up." So he rose, and they had breakfast together; 

 then he took his departure. As he was leaving she said, "Come back again 

 soon," and he promised that he would. When he reached home his mother and 

 brother said to him, "Where have you come from? Where were you last night? 

 How was it that you did not come home?" "Oh," he replied, "I walked such a 

 long way that when evening drew near I was tired out, and just lay down on 

 the ground and went to sleep." They were still doubtful, and asked him, 

 "Perhaps you met something up there inland — perhaps you found a girl and 

 that is why you did not come back? It was too cold to sleep out of doors." 

 "No, no," he said, "I was not cold. I was very tired and just lay down on the 

 ground and went to sleep." His brother was still sceptical and questioned him 

 again, but received the same answer. When they went to bed that night the 

 young man said, "I shall go inland again tomorrow," and his brother answered, 

 "I'll go with you." "No, you stay at home, I'll go by myself." "No, I'll go 

 too." "No, no, you stay at home; if you went you would get too tired and 

 never be able to return." "Oh well, I'll stay then." So the youth went away 

 again alone, and reached the girl's house towards evening. She heard his foot- 

 steps outside and said "That's my husband coming back;" and she went out to 

 greet him. Everything happened as before; she cooked him some white-fish, 

 and they slept; then in the morning she wakened him up and after breakfast 

 he went back home. He was greeted with the same questions as before, and 

 returned the same answer; and when he went away again in the morning he 

 would not let his brother accompany him. So it happened several times, till 

 at last his mother and brother were sure that he must have a wife inland. Then 

 one morning after breakfast the girl said to her husband, "Well, I'm your wife 

 now, I'll go back with you;" and they returned together. His mother saw 

 them coming and said, "Yes, he has found a wife; he's bringing her home with 

 him." Pleased with his success she greeted them very warmly and immediately 

 prepared a good meal for them. 



The other youth was rather chagrined, so he too went away and found a 

 wife and took her home. Then together the youths built two racks and went 

 hunting each day. One rack they loaded with caribou and rabbits, the other 

 with whitefish and seals, both the rough and bearded varieties. 



38. The Unsuccessful Hunter 

 (Told by Jennie Thomsen) 



Long ago there lived at Tapqaq a man of wealth and influence. One sum- 

 mer he secured very httle game, so that when the snow came he had not much 

 food. During the late autumn he ate nothing in the morning, hunted all day. 



