Native Americans: 22 Books on History, Mythology, Culture & Linguistic Studies - James Mooney

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of these stories are almost identical in both countries, for instance, Qaudjaqdjuq, the origin of the narwhal, &c., and it is of great interest to learn that some passages, particularly speeches and songs, occur literally in both countries, for instance, the interesting song of Niviarsiang (page 637) and the conclusion of the Kiviung tradition. The tradition of the Tornit and the form of the second tale (origin of the narwhal) resemble much more those of Labrador than those of Greenland. The elements of which the traditions are composed are combined differently in the tales of Baffin Land and Greenland, but most of these elements are identical. I give here a comparative table.

Greenland. Baffin Land.
Transformation of a man into a seal. Rink, pp. 222, 224, 469. Kiviung, p. 621.
Men walking on the surface of the water. Rink, pp. 123, 407. Kiviung, p. 622.
Harpooning a witch. Rink, p. 372. Sedna, p. 604.
Erqigdlit. Rink, pp. 401 et seq. Adlet, p. 637.
Sledge of the man of the moon drawn by one dog. Rink, pp. 401, 442. Qaudjaqdjuq, p. 631, and The flight to the moon, p. 598.
Origin of the salmon. Cranz, p. 262. Ititaujang, p. 617.
Arnaquagsaq. Rink, pp. 150, 326, 466. Sedna, p. 583.
Origin of the thunder. Cranz, p. 233; Egede, p. 207. Kadlu, p. 600.

      The following is a comparison between traditions from Alaska and the Mackenzie and those of the Central Eskimo:

Traditions from Alaska and the Mackenzie: Traditions of the Central Eskimo:
Men as descendants of a dog, Murdoch, op. cit., 594. Origin of the Adlet and white men, p. 637.
The origin of reindeer, Murdoch, op. cit., p. 595. Origin of the reindeer and walrus, p. 587.
The origin of the fishes, Murdoch, op. cit., p. 595. Ititaujang, p. 617.
Thunder and lightning, Murdoch, op. cit., p. s595. Kadlu the thunderer, p. 600.
Sun and moon, Petitot, op. cit., p. 7. Sun and moon, p. 597.
Orion, Simpson, p. 940. Orion, p. 636.

      The table shows that the following ideas are known to all tribes from Alaska to Greenland: The sun myth, representing the sun as the brother of the moon; the legend of the descent of man from a dog; the origin of thunder by rubbing a deerskin; the origin of fish from chips of wood; and the story of the origin of deer.

      It must be regretted that very few traditions have as yet been collected in Alaska, as the study of such material would best enable us to decide upon the question of the origin of the Eskimo.

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      The Eskimo exhibit a thorough knowledge of the geography of their country. I have already treated of their migrations and mentioned that the area they travel over is of considerable extent. They have a very clear conception of all the countries they have seen or heard of, knowing the distances by day’s journeys, or, as they say, by sleeps, and the directions by the cardinal points. So far as I know, all these tribes call true south piningnang, while the other points are called according to the weather prevailing while the wind blows from the different quarters. In Cumberland Sound uangnang is west-northwest; qaningnang (that is, snow wind), east-northeast; nigirn, southeast; and aqsardnirn, the fohn-like wind blowing from the fjords of the east coast. On Nettilling these names are the same, the east-northeast only being called qanara (that is, is it snow?) In Akudnirn uangnang is west-southwest; ikirtsuq (i.e., the wind of the open sea), east-northeast; oqurtsuq (i.e., the wind of the land Oqo or of the lee side, southeast; and avangnanirn (i.e., from the north side along the shore), the northwestern gales. According to Parry the same names as in Cumberland Sound are used in Iglulik.

      If the weather is clear the Eskimo use the positions of the sun, of the dawn, or of the moon and stars for steering, and find their way pretty well, as they know the direction of their point of destination exactly. If the weather is thick they steer by the wind, or, if it is calm, they do not travel at all. After a gale they feel their way by observing the direction of the snowdrifts.

      They distinguish quite a number of constellations, the most important of which are Tuktuqdjung (the deer), our Ursa Major; the Pleiades, Sakietaun; and the belt of Orion, Udleqdjun.

see caption

      CUMBERLAND PENINSULA, DRAWN BY ARANIN, A SAUMINGNIO.

      ESKIMO DRAWINGS.

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