Copper Eskimo Traditions 83 A 



E. GIANTS AND DWARFS 



77. Nahaingalaq 

 (Told by Higilaq) 



There once lived a giant woman named Nahaingalaq, the daughter of a 

 man named Akulugyuk. She carried an adze and an ulo for killing people, 

 whom she used to slip inside her coat and carry off. Once she found an Eskimo 

 fishing on a lake. He fled, but she pursued him and was on the point of seizing 

 him when he turned and shot her with his bow and arrow. He left her lying 

 where she fell, but other Eskimos found the body and laid it out properly in burial. 



Cf. Boas, Biilletin, A.M.N.H., Vol. XV, pt. I, p. 537f.; Stefansson, Anthrop. Papers, A.M.N.H., Vol. XIV, pt. 

 I, p. 326 (The Eskimo words at the bottom of the page mean "They insert them into their coats"); Jochelson, p. 374f. 



78. The Giant and his Dwarf Companion 

 (Told by Aneraq) 



There once lived a giant who had for his companion an extremely small 

 man. This giant was addicted to oversleeping, so he told his companion to 

 wake him up if ever he observed the approach of a bear so big that it obscured 

 the sun. When the bear appeared, the small man woke the giant by rapping 

 his head with a stone, whereupon he rose up, tied the little man to the inside of 

 his foot out of sight, and slew the bear with his spear. 



Cf. Meddelelser om Gr*nland, Vol. XXXIX, p. 232f.; Boas, Bulletin, A.M.N.H., V XV, pt. I, pp. 196, 368 

 with references; Jochelson, p. 369 (9). 



79. The Giant and the Eskimo 

 (Told by Ilatsiaq) 



A giant had adopted an Eskimo as his son. One day they were fishing in 

 a lake in the country of Saningaiyoq, where the giant fish dwells, while another 

 giant was fishing high up on a cliff near by. The two down below caught no 

 fish, but the giant above caught two, whereupon he taunted them saying, ci.'yci,k 

 ht-yuWrnk kiyuU'Uk maXyoha'qtoq "The squirrel who has teeth himself has caught 

 two things with teeth." This exasperated the giant down below, and he said 

 to the Eskimo, "Stay down here and drive a knife into him when I drag him 

 down." Then he climbed the cliff, seized his adversary by the knees and pulled 

 him down, whereupon the Eskimo immediately stabbed him with his knife. 



Cf. Meddelelser om Gr$nland, Vol. XXXIX, p. 234; Boas, Bulletin, A.M.N.H., Vol. XV, pt. I, p. 314; Petitot, 

 p. 400. 



80. The Giant's Revenge 

 (Told by Ilatsiaq) 



In the early days, giants, myu'kpain, lived upon the earth. One couple 

 had a baby who crawled away from home while the parents were sleeping, and 

 came to a settlement of Eskimos. It was wearing a bright band on its forehead, 

 and some of the Eskimos tried to examine it, but the baby persistently held its 

 head down. They tried to force it up, and in so doing strangled the child. 

 The next morning the parents appeared, searching for their child. The first 

 people they encountered were innocent of the crime, but they told the father 

 what had happened. He bade them go high up from the beach and from that 

 vantage point watch him paddle his kayak; then he went on to the murderers 

 and said to them, quyiaqc' i,7ja cena'nun ta'vuya nafjLkpayia'ylici qayaqtajmaqtuya 

 "Watch me. On the beach there stand. I am going to paddle my kayak." 



