168 



ARCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



of these people. Mingumailo sat facing us. He began by rapidly 

 clapping his hands ; so rapidly, indeed, that it was impossible to 

 count the strokes. Then he accompanied this clapping by some 

 metaphorical expressions beyond the power of ordinary intelli- 

 gences to divine ; and, indeed, no one but an angeko is considered 

 capable of divining them. In fact, the word angeko signifies l he is 

 very great, 1 and this is given as a reason why none but angekos — 

 the really great — should understand. Of course, I demeaned my- 

 self accordingly, and was as quiet and serious a listener as any 

 one there. Occasionally the angeko would cease his voice and 

 the motion of his hands. Then all became still as death. Pres- 

 ently, with renewed vigor he would recommence his services, pat- 

 ting his hands — which were moved around during the operation 

 — now in a circle, now before my face, now before Koojesse's. 

 Another minute he would pat the chest on which he sat, first on 

 one end, then on the other, next on this side, then on that, after- 

 ward on the top, and so repeating all the operations again and 

 again. Every now and then, with his eyes staring into the far- 

 thest recesses of the tent, he would become fixed as marble, and 

 looking quite hideous. 



At such times Koojesse was brought into active use. He was 

 directed, as much by the angeko's signs as by the sudden and 

 sharp words uttered, to fix his eyes upon this point of the tent, 

 then that, but more particularly to where it was said by the wiz- 

 ard ^Kudlagds- spirit shook the skin coverings. 1 



Poor Koojesse ! I could not help pitying him, though myself 

 hardly able to control the laughter reigning within me. There 

 he sat, large drops of perspiration streaming from his nose (Es- 

 quimaux sweat profusely only on the nose), and as earnest as 

 though life and soul were the issue. All at once came unusual 

 efforts. The climax was at hand. A grand finale was to take 

 place, and this was done with a sprinkling of clear words in Es- 

 quimaux, just enough for Koojesse and myself to understand. 

 The angeko spirit spoke : 1 He was in want. The kodluna {white 

 man) could relieve his wants. "Would not the kodluna give the 

 spirit one of the double-barreled guns in his possession'?' 



This was enough. I saw through the scheme in a moment ; 

 but, though astounded at the impudence of the proposition, I be- 

 trayed nothing to show surprise. I merely turned to Koojesse, 

 and quietly asked if that was really the angeko's meaning. The 

 reply, in subdued tones, was 'yes;' whereupon I farther asked 



