308 М. THALBITZER. 
secrets of an “art intime” which made an evening in their hut a never 
to be forgotten experience for a guest. 
Just as in West Greenland — where, in 1901, I spent similar story- 
telling nights in the natives’ hut e.g. near Ilulissät, the great ice-fjord 
in Disko Bay — the power of recitation had attained its aim, if all the 
listeners finally fell asleep, and this results was considered very flattering 
to the story-tellers. — According to Francis Barnum the Alaska Eskimo 
hold the same view. This author gives an interesting account of the 
story-telling customs of the western Innuit at Tununa in SW. Alaska, 
as he heard them in 1891.1 
“The Western Innuit, both old and young, are exceedingly fond of listen- 
ing to stories. When all the inmates of a kazhga have settled themselves down 
for the night, usually some one will say, “Tell us a story.” ..... Every village 
has some popular story-teller, whose thrilling tales serve to beguile the long 
winter evenings. ..... Generally the audience have all dropped off to sleep 
before the end of the story. 
In many stories songs are introduced. These verses are without rhymes 
and, moreover, they often contain archaic words the meaning of which has 
been lost. Very seldom does a story contain any description of natural scenery. 
Many stories contain accounts of sorcerers, ogres, giants, dwarfs, and 
O00 0000 
mermaids..... In one story there is an account of how the fox became red 
through shame at being overmatched in strategy by a ptarmigan..... In nearly 
all stories the orphan boy is the hero who surmounts all obstacles and 
triumphs in the end. 
Generally all stories close with the word efaugwetk. This is evidently an 
archaic term, the meaning of which I have never found any one who could 
explain. Many at the close of the story use nangnok meaning ‘it is the end’.” 
In East Greenland (Ammassalik), there was a customary introduc- 
tion and close to each tale. 
A. Introduction: up'age--una (up:ane'r-una, up'anie‘r-una) or up:- 
ane rujoro‘r-una or up'age-quar-a'se "na, sometimes with a following 
ta‘magigie’na (‘the affair is the same too, in this story’). 
The root, up'a, seems to be the same word as is used in East 
Greenland to express a certain doubt or surprise that what is being 
told really is so (cf. p. 151, $ 74). The ending, -una, refers to the 
content of the tale. The whole means about: “What shall we believe 
about it? But listen now to what follows!” or: “Believe in it, who 
will, now comes the little story as usual, listen now!” 
В. Finale: tawa na'won or na‘niog (na’gion or na‘gion) or thus: 
nagin па‘дт na‘gioq “Stop, stop, stop, that too, had an end!” 
And at the very end is often added: uke-ulokajiy man-in-erciarti- 
wokajiy (ukiunutakaje’ man'in’erliwakaje‘) or uke-nulukucsuy man'ini- 
ciartiwokajé (uke-nialtikucsuk may'inerciartujokajé) ‘a poor means of 
shortening the winter, (and) a big thumped means of bringing the 
summer by driving out the frost.’ 
1 Barnum (1901) p. 271—272. 2 
