PINGEIAK AND JENS. 
125 
aided by accompanying gestures. Thus euphonious^ 
solicited, the Upernaviks sat down and ate, and, pro¬ 
nouncing the brief acknowledgment, “Thanks,” which 
always ends a stranger’s meal, went their way in peace. 
The old practice which is found among some of the 
Asiatic and North American tribes, of carrying off the 
bride by force, is common among the Esquimaux, and 
reluctantly abandoned even by the converted. The 
ceremonial rite follows at the convenience of the parties. 
Jens, the son of my old friend Cristiansen at Proven, 
came very nigh being left a bachelor by an exercise of 
this custom. He was not quite ready to perform the 
gallant function himself toward his lady-love, when a 
lusty rival, one Pingeiak, carried her off bodily in dead 
of night. The damsel made good fight, however, and, 
though the abduction was repeated three times over, 
she managed to keep her troth. In the result, Jens, 
as phlegmatic and stupid a half-breed as I ever met 
with, got the prettiest woman in all North Green¬ 
land. Pingeiak was the best hunter and had the 
largest tent, but Jens was the son of the head-man. I 
believe such things may come about in other parts of 
the world. 
I remember other instances among parties whom I 
knew. A young aspirant for the favors of an unbap¬ 
tized daughter of the settlement at Sever-nik got a 
companion to assist him, and succeeded in carrying her 
to his sledge. But the ruthless father had the quicker 
dog-team, and pursued with such ferocious alacrity 
that the unlucky devotee of ancient custom had to 
