572 



AKCTIC RESEARCH EXPEDITION. 



been happy while living on this earth. Any one who has been 

 killed by accident, or who has committed suicide, certainly goes 

 to the happy place. 



"All Innuits who have been bad — that is, unkind one to an- 

 other — all who have been unhappy while on this earth, will go to 

 Adleparmeun. If an Innuit kill another because he is mad at 

 him, he certainly will go to Adleparmeun." 



They have a tradition of a deluge, which they attribute to an 

 unusually high tide. On one occasion, when I was speaking with 

 Tookoolito concerning her people, she said, "Innuits all think this 

 earth once covered with water." I asked her why they thought 

 so. She answered, " Did you never see little stones, like clams 

 and such things as live in the sea, away up on the mountains?" 



The subject of the religious ideas and observances of the In- 

 nuits is nearly connected with that of their angekos, who have a 

 great influence among these people, and exercise the only author- 

 ity to which they in any degree submit. With regard to these 

 angekos, it appeared to me that man or woman could become 

 such if shrewd enough to obtain a mental ascendency over others. 



The angeko's business is twofold : he ministers in behalf of the 

 sick, and in behalf of the community in general. If a person falls 

 ill the angeko is sent for. He comes, and, before proceeding to his 

 peculiar work, demands payment for his services, stating his price, 

 usually some article to which he has taken a liking. Whatever 

 he demands must be given at once, otherwise the expected good 

 result of the ministration would not follow. 



When the preliminary arrangements have been satisfactorily 

 disposed of, the family of the sick person sit around the couch of 

 the patient, and with earnestness and gravity join in the cere- 

 monies. The angeko commences a talking and singing, the na- 

 ture of which it is impossible to state more precisely than to say 

 that it seems to be a kind of incantation or prolonged supplica- 

 tion, perhaps mingled with formulas which are supposed to charm 

 away the disease. At intervals during this performance the fam- 

 ily respond, frequently uttering a word corresponding to our 

 amen. As to medicine, none is ever prescribed, nor do the In- 

 nuits ever take any. 



The duties of the angeko, with reference to the community, con- 

 sist in ankooting for success in whaling, walrusing, sealing, and 

 in hunting certain animals ; for the disappearance of ice, and for 

 the public good in various particulars. These more public min- 



