ETHNOLOGY OF THE UNGAVA DISTRICT, HUDSON BAY TERRITORY. (continued 6)

He put the pack of meat on his back and set out. That evening he arrived at his home, and as soon as his wife heard him her heart was glad. He entered and informed the family that he had brought home a quantity of meat and fat, and had procured so much as to be unable to carry it all at once. His wife begged him to fetch her a piece of meat, as she was nearly starved. He went out and brought in a large piece of fat. The wife devoured such a quantity of it that she became very ill, and suffered all through the night. In the morning the wolverene stated he would return for the meat which he had stored away the previous day. He started in the early morning, so as to return by daylight.

As soon as the wolverene looked upon the sled loaded with meat the spell was broken. One of the old wolves ordered the young wolves to go and destroy the meat and fat which the wolverene had left on the stage. They eagerly set out on the track of the sled, and soon saw the staging where the wolverene had stored the remainder of the food. When they came up to it they fell to and devoured all but a few scraps of it. The wolves then went away, and in a few hours the wolverene returned. He saw what had happened and exclaimed: “My brothers have ruined me! My brothers have ruined me!” He knew it had been done because he had looked back at the sled, although strictly enjoined upon not to do so under any circumstance. He gathered up the fragments which the wolves had left and returned home. When he arrived there he informed his wife that his brothers had ruined him, because they had eaten all the meat which he had stored away while out hunting.

The starving Indians.—

A band of Indians, who had neglected to store away a supply of food for a time of scarcity, were upon the point of starvation. An old man who lived at a little distance from the camping place of the band, had wisdom to lay by a good store of dry meat and a number of cakes of fat, so that he had an abundance while the other improvident people were nearly famished. They applied to him, begging for food, but they were refused the least morsel. One day, however, an old man came to him asking for food for his children. The man gave him a small piece of meat. When the man’s children ate this food they began to cry for more. The mother told her little boy to stop crying. He persisted in his clamor until his mother asked him: “Why do you not go to the old U´ sets kwa nĕ po?” (the name means One whose neck wrinkles into folds when he sits down). This old man heard the mother tell her child to go to him, and muttered to himself, “That is just what I want.”

The little boy went to the old man’s tent door, and lifting aside the flap, said: “I want to come in.” He went in and the old man addressed the boy by his own name, saying: “What do you want, U´ sets kwa nĕ po?” in such a kindly voice that the boy felt assured. The boy said: “I am very hungry and want some food.” The old man inquired in an astonished voice: “Hungry? and your meat falling down from the stage?” The old man bade the boy sit down, while he went out to the stage and selected some choice portions and brought them into the tent and gave them to the boy. The old man then asked the boy if he had a sister. The boy said that he had a father, mother, and one sister. After the boy had finished eating, the old man directed the boy to come with him and see the meat stages. They went out and the old man said: “Now, go home and tell your father that all of this food will belong to you if he will give me his daughter.” The little boy went home and repeated what the old man had said. The father signified his willingness to give his daughter in marriage to the old man. The boy returned to the old man and stated that his father was willing to give away his daughter. The old man immediately went out, took some meat and fat from the stage, and then cooked three large kettles of food. When this was done he selected a suit of clothing for a man and two suits for women. He placed the nicer one of the latter near his own seat, and the other two suits directly on the opposite side of the fireplace (the place of honor in the tent). He then told the little boy to call all the Indians, adding: “There is your father’s coat, your mother’s dress, and your sister’s dress. Tell your parents to sit where they see the clothing,” pointing to the clothes intended for them, and the sister to sit near the old man, pointing to his own place. The boy ran out and apprised the people, together with his own relations. The boy returned to the old man’s tent before the guests arrived. The boy’s father came first, and the boy said: “Father, there is your coat.” The mother then entered, and the boy said: “Mother, there is your dress.” The sister then entered, and the boy pointed to the dress, saying: “Sister, there is your dress.” All the other Indians then came in and seated themselves. They took two kettles of meat and broke the fat into pieces and feasted until all was consumed. The old man helped his wife, her father, mother, and brother to the contents of the other kettle. When all the food was finished the old man said to the boy, “U´ sēts kwa nĕ po, go and set your deer snares.” The old man went with him to find a suitable place. They could find only the tracks of deer made several days previously. They, however, set thirty snares and returned home. The next morning they all went to the snares and found a deer in each one. The people began to skin the deer and soon had a lot of meat ready for cooking. They began to feast, and continued until all was done. By this time a season of abundance had arrived.

INDEX.

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

Amulets, Eskimo 201

—— of northern Indians 275

Amusements, Eskimo 254

—— of northern Indians 320

Animal life of the Ungava district 174

Animism among northern Indians 273

Archery, Indian 313

Arrow, Eskimo 246

——, Nenenot 312

Arts, Eskimo 259

——, Nenenot 297

Athletics, Indian 321

Auroras, Eskimo myths concerning 266

—— of the Ungava district 173

Awls, Nenenot 318

Ball used in primitive football 257

Baskets, Birch-bark among the Nenenot 301

Baths, Use of —— 300

Bear of the Ungava district 174

Beaver, Chase of the 316

——, Myths concerning 339

Beliefs, Eskimo 196

——, Mortuary 192

Birch-Bark canoes, Nenenot 304

——, Use of, for baskets 301

Birds carved in ivory by the Eskimo 260

—— of the Ungava district 175

Boats, Eskimo 235

Boots, Eskimo 179, 205, 217

Bow cases, Eskimo 247

——, Eskimo 246

——, Nenenot 312

Bowling among the Eskimo 257

Brant, Myths concerning 327

Burial among northern Indians 271

Calendar, Eskimo 202

Cannibalism among the Eskimo 187

Canoes, Nenenot 304

Card games among the Eskimo 255

Carving, Eskimo 260

Ceremonial connected with puberty 208

Chase, Methods of the 277, 316

——, Usages connected with the 274

Checkers among northern Indians 323

Childbirth among northern Indians 271

Childhood, Customs relating to 190

Children, Condition of, among northern Indians 269

——, Eskimo myths concerning 265

——, Naming of 190

Climate of the Ungava district 172

Clothing of northern Indians 208, 281

Coins, Use of, among the Eskimo 212

Combs, Nenenot 319

Conjuring among northern Indians 193, 274

Cooking among northern Indians 233, 280

Costume, Eskimo 208

——, Nenenot 289

Courtship among the Eskimo 188

Creation myths 338

Cree Indians, Northern relatives of 267

Cup-and-Ball among Northern Indians 255, 323

Curling among the Eskimo 257

Customs, Indian domestic 178, 183, 185, 205, 275, 299

——, Mortuary 191

Deer hunting, Eskimo 249

——, Myths concerning 201, 328

Deerskin, Use of 284, 299

Dice, Primitive game of 178

Differentiation of labor among Indians 271

Diseases of the Eskimo 187

Divorce, Eskimo 189

Dog whip, Eskimo 244

——, Habits of the Eskimo 225, 245

——, Use of 241, 309

Dolls, Eskimo 197, 258

Dominoes, Primitive game of 257

Dreams, Beliefs concerning 200

——, Influence of, among northern Indians 272

Drum, Nenenot 322, 324

Dueling among northern Indians 271

Dwellings, Indian 223, 298

Effigies, Use of, among the Eskimo 260

Eskimo, Customs of 168

—— myths 193, 195

—— of the Ungava district 175

——, Whale fishing by 174

Ethnology of the Ungava district 167

Festivals, Nenenot 322

Fetichism among northern Indians 201, 272

Fish, Use of, for food 280

Fish-Hooks, Nenenot 320

Fishing among the Eskimo 204

Floats, Fishing, Eskimo 248

Folk-Lore, Indian 260, 327

Food, —— 232, 279

Football among the Eskimo 255

Fort Chimo, Ethnology of 167

Fort George, High tides at 170

Fox, Eskimo myths concerning 264

Frog, Myths concerning 334

Furniture, Eskimo 228

Furs, Eskimo classification of 218

—— taken by northern Indians 177, 181

Gadfly infesting the reindeer 295

Gambling among the Eskimo 178

Games, Primitive 178, 255, 323

George River, Description of 169

Genesis among northern Indians 261, 336

Gesture, Use of, among northern Indians 183

Goggles, Eskimo 222

Grave, Eskimo 192

Great Spirit among the Eskimo 194

Grubs in reindeer skins 295

Guillemots, Mythic origin of 262

Gulls, —— 263

Hare, Myths concerning the 263, 340

Harness, Dog 243

Harpoon used among northern Indians 183, 240

Hawks, Mythic origin of 263

Headdress, Nenenot 286

Hematite, Use of, among northern Indians 298

Household articles, northern 228, 300

Houses of the Ungava district 167

Hudson Bay Company, Work of, in the Ungava district 167

Hudson Bay Territory, Indians of 167, 267

Hunting among northern Indians 203, 240, 249, 276, 279, 316

—— implements 238, 246

Ice pick, Primitive 319

—— scoop, —— 318

Implements of northern Indians 252, 317

Innuit, Legendary origin of 261

—— of the Ungava district 175

Intestines, Use of, for clothing 220

Intoxicants, Absence of, among the Nenenot 304

Islands, Mythic origin of 264

Ivory carving among the Eskimo 260

Jay, Beliefs concerning the 273

Knives of northern Indians 206, 252, 317

Koksoagmyut, Description of 184

Koksoak River, Description of 170

——, Ethnology of 167

Labor, Division of 271

Labrador, Ethnology of 167

——, Myths from 264

Ladles, Nenenot 302

Lamps, Eskimo 229

Language, Modification of the Eskimo 176

Larch River, Description of 171

Law, Common, among the Eskimo 186

Leaf River, Description of 171

Legends of northern Indians 260, 327

Leggings, Nenenot 283, 291

Lice, Eskimo myths concerning 263

Little Whale River Indians, Description of 182

Lodge, Ceremonies and beliefs respecting 274

Longevity among northern Indians 190, 270

Loon, Eskimo myths concerning 262

Lynx, Use of, for food 279

Magic, Primitive 197

Mammals of the Ungava district 174

Marriage among northern Indians 188, 199, 270

Marrow, Extraction of 278

Marten, Myths concerning 338

McLean, John, cited on Hudson Bay territory 168

Medicine lodge of northern Indians 274

——, Primitive 269, 274, 325

——, Thaumaturgic 194

Mementoes among northern Indians 274

Migration, Eskimo 203

Mittens of northern Indians 219, 284, 285

Moccasins, Nenenot 284

Montagnais of the Ungava district 181

Moon, Beliefs concerning 265

Mortuary Customs and beliefs 178, 191, 271

Mosquitoes, Mythic origin of 264

Mouse, Beliefs concerning 273

Murdoch, John, editor of paper on Ethnology of the Ungava district 167

——, Reference to work of 238

Music among northern Indians 322

Muskrat, Myths concerning 338

Mythology, Primitive 261, 327

Myths of the Eskimo 195

Names, Eskimo 200

——, Topographic, among the Eskimo 202

Naskopie Indians, Description of 183, 267

Navigation, Eskimo 236

Needle, Nenenot 310

Nenenot Indians, Description of 183, 267

Numerals, Use of, among the Eskimo 256

Oil, Consumption of, among the Eskimo 233

Ornamentation of clothing, Nenenot 283

Otter, Myths concerning 330

Owls, Beliefs concerning 273

Paddles, Nenenot 306

Paint Sticks, Nenenot 297

—— used among northern Indians 296

Paternity, Indefinite, among Indians 271

Peck, E. J., Influence of, on Indians 182

Pestles used among northern Indians 280, 302

Pipe, Nenenot 302

Polygamy among northern Indians, 270

Population, Eskimo 176

Portage, Method of making, among northern Indians 306

Ptarmigan, Hunting of 204

Puberty, Ceremonial connected with 208

Quivers, Eskimo 247

Rabbit, Myths concerning 334

Raven, Mythic origin of 262

Reindeer hunting 276, 313

——, Myths concerning 200

——, Uses of 276

Religion, Primitive 193

——, ——, Persistence of 179

Sacrifice, Primitive 196

Scaffold burial among northern Indians 272

Scrapers, Nenenot 292

Sealskin, Use of, among northern Indians 221, 232, 292

Sea Pigeons, Mythic origin of 262

Seasons, Recognition of, by Indians 203

Sense development among the Eskimo 202

Sewing, Primitive 207, 282

Shamanism among northern Indians 194, 273

——, Persistence of 179

Shoes, Eskimo 217

Sinew, Extraction of 251

——, Use of, for sewing 221

Skin clothing, Use of 209

—— dressing among northern Indians 205, 275, 278, 292

—— tents, Eskimo 226

Skinning, Peculiar method of 207

Sky, Myth concerning 266

Sleds among northern Indians 240, 306

Smoking among northern Indians 234, 291, 302

Smoking deerskins 296

Snaring among northern Indians 279, 315

Snow goggles, Eskimo 222

—— houses, Description of 223

—— shoe, Nenenot 308

—— ——, Use of, among northern Indians 311

—— shovel, Primitive 318

Snuff, Use of, among northern Indians 234, 291, 302

Soapstone, Use of, for utensils 228

Sod houses, Eskimo 228

Spears, Primitive 238, 314

Spirit, Beliefs in 194, 272, 333, 342

Spoons, Nenenot 302, 306

Spruce Beer, Effect of, on the Nenenot 304

Squirrel, Myths concerning 328

Stars, Beliefs concerning 266

Stature of the Eskimo 177, 184

Stone houses, Eskimo 228

Stories of northern Indians 260, 327

Strength, Physical, of the Eskimo 268

Suicide among the Eskimo 186

Sun, Beliefs concerning 266

Superstition among northern Indians 179, 272

Swallow, Myths concerning 263

Sweat houses, Nenenot 300

Swimming board, Nenenot 320

Talisman, Eskimo 197

Tanning, Primitive 294

Targets, Nenenot 326

Tattooing, Eskimo 207

Teams, Dog 241

Tents of northern Indians 226, 273, 298

Throwingsticks, Eskimo 239

Tides in the Ungava district 170

Tobacco, Use of, among northern Indians 234, 291, 302

Toboggans, Nenenot 307

Topography of the Ungava district 168

Toys, Nenenot 326

Trading among northern Indians 275

Transportation among northern Indians 304

Trapping among northern Indians 204, 280

Trophies among northern Indians 274

Turner, Lucien M., Memoir by, on ethnology of the Ungava district 167

Ungava Bay, Description of 171

——, Ethnology of 167

Ungava District 267

Utensils, Cooking, among northern Indians 228, 300

Vegetation of the Ungava district 169, 173

Venison, Preservation of 277

Viability among northern Indians 269

Violin, Eskimo 259

Weapons of northern Indians 246, 312

Whale fishing, Indian 174, 203, 247, 314

Whip, Eskimo dog 244

White people, Legends concerning 261

Wind, Beliefs concerning 267

Wolf, Myths concerning 263, 330

Wolverine, —— 327, 333, 345

——, Trapping of 281

Women, Condition of Indian 269, 320

——, Myths concerning 264

Wrestling, Indian 321