Tales and Traditions of the Eskimo

A woman named Alekakukiak had been allied to her enemies by the bands of marriage. A poor old wife, to whom she had shown much kindness, once informed her of her brothers-in-law intending to kill her. On hearing this she fled to the inland, where she first met with a bear. Having no sort of weapon whatever, she took a string from her hood, and cracking it like a whip in the front of the animal, she made it fall to the ground. She proceeded in the same manner with an amarok, and at length she reached the sea on the other side, and came to her relatives.

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

A very similar, but equally trifling and insignificant fragment, has been received from Labrador.