CHAPTER EIGHT.
MRS. OKIOK'S LITTLE EVENING PARTY.
In Eskimo land, as in England, power and industry result in theelevation and enrichment of individuals, though they have not yetresulted there, as here, in vast accumulations of wealth, or in classdistinctions. The elevating tendency of superior power and practice isseen in the fact that while some hunters are nearly always pretty welloff--"well-to-do," as we would express it--others are often in a stateof poverty and semi-starvation. A few of them possess twoestablishments, and some even go the length of possessing two wives. Itis but just to add, however, that these last are rare. Most Eskimo mendeem one wife quite as much as they can manage to feed.
Our friend Okiok was what we may style one of the aristocracy of theland. He did not, indeed, derive his position from inheritance, butfrom the circumstance of his being a successful hunter, a splendidcanoe-man, and a tremendous fighter.
When it is added that his fights were often single-handed against thePolar bear, it may be understood that both his activity and courage weregreat. He was not an angekok, for, like his friend Angut, he did notbelieve in wizards; nevertheless he was very truly an angekok, in thesense of being an uncommonly wise man, and his countrymen, recognisingthe fact, paid him suitable respect.
Okiok possessed a town and a country mansion. That is to say, besidesthe solitary residence already mentioned, close to the great glacier, heowned the largest hut in the Eskimo village. It was indeed quite apalatial residence, capable of holding several families, and havingseveral holes in it--or windows--which were glazed, if we may say so,with the scraped intestines of animals.
It was to this residence that Okiok drove on the afternoon of the daythat he missed Ippegoo's visit.
On finding that most of the men had gone southward to hunt, he resolvedto follow them, for his purpose was to consult about the Kablunet, whohad so recently fallen like a meteor from the sky into their midst.
"But you will stop here, Nuna, with Nunaga, and tell the women all aboutthe Kablunet, while I go south alone. Make a feast; you have plenty togive them. Here, help me to carry the things inside."
Okiok had brought quite a sledge-load of provisions with him, for it hadbeen his intention to give a feast to as many of the community as couldbe got inside his hut. The carrying in of the supplies, therefore,involving as it did creeping on hands and knees through a low tunnelwith each article, was not a trifling duty.
"Now," said he, when at last ready to start, "be sure that you ask theliars and the stupid ones to the feast, as well as the wise; and makethem sit near you, for if these don't hear all about it from your ownmouth they will be sure to carry away nonsense, and spread it. Don'tgive them the chance to invent."
While her husband was rattling away south over the hummocky sea in hisempty sledge, Nuna lighted her lamps, opened her stores, and began tocook.
"Go now, Nunaga," she said, "and tell the women who are to feed with usto-night."
"Who shall I invite, mother?" asked pretty little Nunaga, preparing toset forth on her mission.
"Invite old Kannoa, of course. She is good."
"Yes, mother, and she is also griggy."
We may remark in passing that it is impossible to convey the exactmeaning of the Eskimo word which we have rendered "griggy." Enough tosay, once for all, that in difficult words and phrases we give as nearlyas possible our English equivalents.
"And Kunelik," said Nuna, continuing to enumerate her guests; "I likethe mother of Ippegoo. She is a pleasant little woman."
"But father said we were to ask liars," remarked Nunaga, with a sweetlook.
"I'm coming to them, child," said Mrs Okiok, with a touch ofpetulance--the result of a gulp of lamp-smoke; "yes, you may askPussimek also. The wife of Simek is always full of wise talk, and herbaby does not squall, which is lucky, for she cannot be forced to leavePussi behind."
"But name the liars and stupid ones, mother," urged Nunaga, who, being adutiful child, and anxious to carry out her father's wishes to theletter, stuck to her point.
"Tell Issek, then, the mother of Arbalik, to come," returned Nuna,making a wry face. "If she is not stupid, she is wicked enough, anddreadful at lies. And the sisters Kabelaw and Sigokow; they are theworst liars in all the village, besides being stupider than puffins.There, that will be enough for our first feed. When these have stuffed,we can have more. Too many at once makes much cooking and little talk.Go, my child."
An hour later, and the gossips of the Eskimo village were assembledround Mrs Okiok's hospitable lamp--she had no "board,"--the raisedfloor at the further end of the hut serving both for seat and table inthe daytime and for bed at night. Of course they were all bursting withcuriosity, and eager to talk.
But food at first claimed too much attention to permit of freeconversation. Yet it must not be supposed that the company wasgluttonous or greedy. Whatever Eskimos may feel at a feast, it is apoint of etiquette that guests should not appear anxious about what isset before them. Indeed, they require a little pressing on the part ofthe host at first, but they always contrive to make amends for suchself-restraint before the feast is over.
And it was by no means a simple feast to which that party sat down.There were dried herrings and dried seal's flesh, and the same boiled;also boiled auks, dried salmon, dried reindeer venison, and amuch-esteemed dish consisting of half raw and slightly putrid seal'sflesh, called _mikiak_--something similar in these respects to our owngame. But the principal dish was part of a whale's tail in a high orgamey condition. Besides these delicacies, there was a pudding, ordessert, of preserved crowberries, mixed with "chyle" from the maw ofthe reindeer, with train oil for sauce.
[See note.]
Gradually, as appetite was satisfied, tongues were loosened, andinformation about the wonderful foreigner, which had been fragmentary atfirst, flowed in a copious stream. Then commentary and question beganin right earnest.
"Have some more mikiak?" said Mrs Okiok to Pussimek.
"No," replied Mrs P, with a sigh.
These northern Eskimos did not, at least at the time of which we write,say "thank you"--not that there was any want of good feeling or civilityamong them, but simply because it was not customary to do so.
Mrs Okiok then offered some more of the delicacy mentioned to themother of Ippegoo.
"No," said Kunelik, leaning back with a contented air against the wall;"I am pleasantly stuffed already."
"But tell me," cried Issek, the stern mother of Arbalik, "what does theKablunet say the people eat in his own land?"
"They eat no whales," said Nuna; "they _have_ no whales."
"No whales!" exclaimed Pussimek, with a `huk' of surprise!
"No; no whales," said Nuna--"and no bears," she added impressively."Ridroonee, (that's his name), says they eat a thing called bread, whichgrows out of the ground like grass."
"Eat grass!" exclaimed the mother of Arbalik.
"So he says, and also beasts that have horns--"
"Reindeer?" suggested Kunelik.
"No; the horns are short, with only one point to each; and the beastsare much heavier than reindeer. They have also great beasts, with noname in our language--hurses or hosses he calls them,--but they don'teat these; they make them haul sledges on little round things calledweels--"
"_I_ know," cried Sigokow; "they must be big dogs!"
"Huk!" exclaimed old Kannoa, who confined her observations chiefly tothat monosyllable and a quiet chuckle.
"No," returned Nuna, becoming a little impatient under these frequentinterruptions; "they are not dogs at all, but hurses--hosses--with hardfeet like stones, and iron boots on them."
A general exclamation of incredulous surprise broke forth at this point,and the mother of Arbalik silently came to the conclusion that Nuna hadat last joined the liars of the community, and was making the most ofher opportunities, and coming out strong.
"Let there be no talk, and I will speak," said Nuna somewhatindignantly; "if you interrup
t me again, I will send you all away toyour huts!"
This threat produced silence, and a sniff from Arbalik's mother. MrsOkiok went on:--
"The land, Ridroonee says, is very rich. They have all that they wish--and _more_!" ("Huk!" from the company)--"except a great many people,called poo-oor, who have not all that they wish--and who sometimes wanta little more." (A groan of remonstrative pity from the audience.) "Butthey have not many seals, and they _never_ eat them."
"Poo! I would not care to live there," said Pussimek.
"And no walruses at all," added Mrs Okiok.
"Boo! a miserable country!" exclaimed Ippegoo's mother.
"Then they have villages--so big!--oh!" Nuna paused from incapacity todescribe, for Eskimos, being unable to comprehend large numbers, areoften obliged to have recourse to illustration. "Listen," continuedNuna, holding up a finger; "if all the whales we catch in a year were tobe cooked, they would not feed the people of their largest village for_one_ day!"
The mother of Arbalik now felt that she had sufficient ground for thebelief that Mrs Okiok was utterly demoralised and lost, in the matterof veracity. Mrs Okiok, looking at her, perceived this in hercountenance, and dropped that subject with a soft smile of consciousinnocence.
Thereupon curiosity broke forth again with redoubled violence.
"But what is the Kablunet like?" cried Kabelaw, as eagerly as if it werethe first time of asking.
"I have told you six times," replied Nuna.
"Tell her again," cried the mother of Arbalik, with a sniff; "she's soused to lies that she finds it hard to take in _the truth_."
There was a sort of double hit intended here, which immensely tickledthe Eskimos, who laughed heartily, for they are fond of a touch ofsarcastic humour.
"Yes, tell her again," they cried unanimously--"for," added Pussimek,"we're not tired of it yet. Are we, Pussi?"
The query was addressed to her stark naked baby, which broke from atremendous stare into a benignant laugh, that had the effect of shuttingup its eyes at the same time that it opened its little mouth.
It must be remarked here that although we have called Pussi a baby, shewas not exactly an infant. She could walk, and understand, and eventalk. She did not, however, (desirable child!) use her tongue freely.In fact, Eskimo children seldom do so in the company of their elders.They are prone to listen, and gaze, and swallow, (mentally), and toreply only when questioned. But they seem to consider themselves freeto laugh at will--hence Pussi's explosion.
"Well, then," continued Mrs Okiok good-naturedly, "I will tell youagain. The Kablunet is a fine man. He must be very much finer when heis fat, for he is broad and tall, and looks strong; but he is thin justnow--oh, so thin!--as thin almost as Ippegoo!"
Ippegoo's mother took this in good part, as, indeed, it was intended.
"But that will soon mend with stuffing," continued Nuna. "And his hairis brown--not black--and is in little rings; and there is nearly as muchbelow his nose as above it, so that his mouth can only be seen whenopen. He carries needles and soft sinews, too, in his bag; but hisneedles are not fish-bones--they are iron; and the sinews are not likeour sinews. They are--I know not what! He has a round thing also, madeof white iron, in his pocket, and it is alive. He says, `No, it is adead thing,' but he lies, for one day when he was out I heard itspeaking to itself in a low soft little voice, but I was afraid to touchit for fear it should bite."
("Lies again!" muttered Issek, the mother of Arbalik, to herself.)
"He says that it tells him about time," continued Nuna; "but how can ittell him about anything if it is dead? Alive and dead at the sametime!"
"Impossible!" cried Pussimek.
"Ridiculous!" cried every one else.
"Huk!" ejaculated old Kannoa, wrinkling up her mild face and exposingher toothless gums in a stupendous chuckle.
"Yes, impossible! But I think he does not tell many lies," said Nunaapologetically. "I think he only does it a little. Then he goes on hisknees every night before lying down, and every morning when he rises,and speaks to himself."
"Why?" cried every one in blazing astonishment.
"I know not," replied Nuna, "and he does not tell."
"He must be a fool," suggested Kunelik.
"I suppose so," returned Nuna, "yet he does not look like a fool."
At this point the description of Rooney's person and characteristics wasinterrupted by a tremendous splash. It was poor Pussi, who, havinggrown wearied of the conversation, had slipped from her mother's side,and while wandering in the background had tumbled into the oil-tub, fromwhich she quickly emerged gasping, gazing, and glittering.
A mild remonstrance, with a good wipe down, soon put her to rights, andNuna was about to resume her discourse, when the sound of rushingfootsteps outside arrested her. Next moment a wild scrambling was heardin the tunnel--as of a giant rat in a hurry--and Ippegoo tumbled intothe hut in a state of wild excitement, which irresistibly affected thewomen.
"What has happened?" demanded Nuna.
"Mother," gasped the youth, turning to the natural repository of all hiscares and troubles, "he is coming!"
"Who is coming, my son?" asked Kunelik, in a quiet, soothing tone, forthe pleasant little woman, unlike most of the others, was not easilythrown into a state of agitation.
"The Kablunet," cried Ippegoo.
"Where, when, who, how, which, what?" burst simultaneously from thegaping crowd.
But for some minutes the evidently exhausted youth could not answer. Hecould only glare and pant. By degrees, however, and with much patience,his mother extracted his news from him, piecemeal, to the followingeffect.
After having sat and gazed in mute surprise at the Kablunet for aconsiderable time, as already mentioned, and having devoured a good mealat the same time, Ippegoo had been closely questioned by Angut as to thereason of his unexpected visit. He had done his best to concealmatters, with which Angut, he said, had nothing to do; but somehow thatwonderfully wise man had seen, as it were, into his brain, and at oncebecame suspicious. Then he looked so fierce, and demanded the truth sosternly, that he, (Ippegoo), had fled in terror from the hut of Okiok,and did not stop till he had reached the top of a hummock, where hepaused to recover breath. Looking back, he saw that Angut had alreadyharnessed the dogs to his sledge, and was packing the Kablunet uponit--"All lies," interrupted Arbalik's mother, Issek, at this point. "Ifthis is true, how comes it that Ippegoo is here first? No doubt thelegs of the simple one are the best part of him, but every one knowsthat they could not beat the dogs of Angut."
"Issek is wise," said Kunelik pleasantly, "almost _too_ wise!--but nodoubt the simple one can explain."
"Speak, my son."
"Yes, mother, I can explain. You must know that Angut was in such afierce hurry that he made his whip crack like the splitting of aniceberg, and the dogs gave such a yell and bound that they dashed thesledge against a hummock, and broke some part of it. What part of it Idid not stop to see. Only I saw that they had to unload, and theKablunet helped to mend it. Then I turned and ran. So I am herefirst."
There was a huk of approval at this explanation, which was given in aslightly exulting tone, and with a glance of mild defiance at Arbalik'smother.
But Issek was not a woman to be put down easily by a simpleton. She atonce returned to the charge.
"No doubt Ippegoo is right," she said, with forced calmness, "but he hastalked of a message to Okiok. I dare say the wife of Okiok would liketo hear what that message is."
"Huk! That is true," said Nuna quickly.
"And," continued Issek, "Ippegoo speaks of the suspicions of Angut.What does he suspect? We would all like to know that."
"Huk! huk! That is also true," exclaimed every one.
"My son," whispered Kunelik, "silence is the only hope of a fool. Speaknot at all."
Ippegoo was so accustomed to render blind and willing obedience to hismother that he instantly brought his teeth together with a snap, andthe
reafter not one word, good, bad, or indifferent, was to be extractedfrom the simple one.
From what he had revealed, however, it was evident that a speedy visitfrom the wonderful foreigner was to be looked for. The little partytherefore broke up in much excitement, each member of it going off inbursting importance to spread the news in her particular circle, withexaggerations suitable to her special nature and disposition.
While they are thus engaged, we will return to the object of all theirinterest.
When Ippegoo fled from Angut, as already told, the latter worthy turnedquickly to Rooney, and said--
"There is danger somewhere--I know not where or what; but I must leaveyou. Ermigit will take good care of Ridroonee till I come again."
"Nay, if there is danger anywhere I will share it," returned Rooney,rising and stretching himself; "I am already twice the man I was withall this resting and feeding."
The Eskimo looked at the sailor doubtfully for a moment; but when actionwas necessary, he was a man of few words. Merely uttering the word"Come," he went out and harnessed his dog-team in a few minutes. Then,after wrapping the Kablunet carefully up in furs, he leaped on thefore-part of the sledge, cracked his whip, and went off at full speed.
"What is the danger that threatens, think you?" asked Rooney; "you musthave some notion about it."
"I know not, but I guess," answered Angut, with a sternness thatsurprised his companion. "Ippegoo is a poor tool in the hands of a badman. He comes from Ujarak, and he asks too earnestly for Nunaga.Ujarak is fond of Nunaga."
Rooney looked pointedly and gravely at Angut. That Eskimo returned thelook even more pointedly and with deeper gravity. Then what we may terma grave smile flitted across the features of the Eskimo. A similarsmile enlivened the features of the seaman. He spoke no word, but fromthat moment Rooney knew that Angut was also fond of Nunaga; and he madeup his mind to aid him to the utmost of his capacity both in love andwar--for sympathy is not confined to races, creeds, or classes, butgloriously permeates the whole human family.
It was at this point that the crash described by Ippegoo occurred.Fortunately no damage was done to the occupants of the sledge, thoughthe vehicle itself had suffered fractures which it took them severalhours to repair.
Having finished the repairs, they set off again at greater speed thanever in the direction of the Eskimo village, accompanied by Ermigit andTumbler, who, not caring to be left behind, had followed on a smallersledge, and overtaken them.
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Note: For further light on this interesting subject see _History ofGreenland and the Moravian Brethren_, volume one, page 159. Longman,1820.