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YASHPEH
International Folktales Collection

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Story No. 1782


Avigiatsiak

Book Name:

Tales and Traditions of the Eskimo

Tradition: Inuit, Eskimo

Avigiatsiak was the name of a young woman who, while grinding her knife on the beach, was taken by a whale. After living for a time with the whales, she fled and was transformed into a seal, living with the seals. As such she was caught by a man, hauled upon the ice, and cut to pieces, all excepting the head, which was thrown beneath the bench. From thence she slipped into the womb of the man's wife who had harpooned her, and was afterwards born anew, and called Avigiatsiak.

Comments:

Of this tale only the principal parts have been selected, and are given here in a very fragmentary form.

Abstract:

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