EXTRAORDINARY SCENE. 



425 



twenty-first encampment, on the south side of Tongue Cape — the 

 same cape where we had our seventh. 



The following day, September 19th, we made good progress 

 downward, with nothing particular to note except the following 

 incident : 



Jack's wife, who was on board pulling at an oar, was suddenly 

 taken with what I at first supposed to be a fit. She broke out 

 into the wild singing which I have already spoken of as pertain- 

 ing to the practice of ankooting. The scene at that moment in 

 the boat was a strange one ; Jack was steering, Annuarping sat 

 close wedged by my side, Ninguarping was between Suzhi and 

 the angeko^ress, holding the little dog Neitch-uk, two women were 

 pulling at the oars, Koodloo sat upon a huge pile of skins at the 

 bow, and the little boy reclined where best he could. They all 

 started into immediate action the moment Jack's wife began her 

 mystical song. As she sent forth her unmelodious voice — her 

 lips sounding like so many fire-crackers on a 4th of July festival 

 at home — one and then another of the Innuits took up a respon- 

 sive chorus to her incantation. As she sang in this wild and sin- 

 gular strain, her arms worked stronger at the oar, and she seemed 

 as if suddenly possessed of a demoniac strength. There was a 

 startling vehemence about her; and when the others joined in 

 chorus, it was as though unearthly visitants had taken possession 

 of them all. At night, when we again encamped, the strange cer- 

 emonies were continued. Jack took up the preaching — if it can 

 be so termed — while the women sang, and the men loudly re- 

 sponded to their angeko. Thus it continued till a late hour, and, 

 with intermissions, through the two following days. They seem- 

 ed to regard it as a duty, somewhat as we hold sacred certain ob- 

 servances on set occasions. 



September 20th and 21st were but a repetition of preceding 

 days, presenting difficulties in getting the male Innuits to work as 

 I wished, forcing me to submit in almost every thing. Perhaps, 

 had I been in robust health, I could have managed them better, 

 but I was too sick and feeble to contend. Once, when Koojesse 

 acted in direct opposition to my desires, I turned upon him, and in 

 sharp tones insisted on his doing as I wished about the boat. I 

 spoke firmly, and with a show of determination. It had some 

 good effect. He steered in the direction I wanted to go, and was 

 as friendly afterward as though no hard words had passed be- 

 tween us. All this time the other Innuits continued at the oars, 



