Post by blackcrowheart on Sept 20, 2007 14:14:37 GMT -5
Encounter of Kaladlit with the Ancient Kavdlunait on the Ice - Inuit
It is said that the Kaladlit of the south country at times were attacked in
the autumn season, when the lakes were frozen over, and the sea-shore was
all bordered with ice. It once happened that a man had been out hunting, and
came home with two white whales. In the evening a couple of girls came
running into the house crying, "The enemy is coming upon us!" At which the
man got into a passion, and tore the fishing-line which he was busily
winding up. But when he was about to go out, the Kavdlunait were already
making an onset upon the house. The housewife, who had been newly delivered
of a child, was by means of sorcery got through a window, and several
escaped the same way; but all those who attempted to get through the
entrance were miserably killed. The master of the house, who had escaped
along with his wife, returned to bring his mother out, but finding her badly
wounded had to leave her to her fate.
Some had in this manner escaped, and hastened away to hide themselves among
the stone heaps, from whence they heard the enemy's wild shouts of triumph.
And the man had to witness his mother being dragged across the frozen lake
by a rope fastened to her tuft of hair. Though greatly enraged, he tried to
keep quiet in his hiding-place, but ordered the two girls down on the ice,
saying, "Now ye go on to the edge of the water, and when they overtake you
plunge yourselves into the sea."
Sobbing and crying, they did as they were bid. No sooner had they been
observed by the Kavdlunait than they were seen to run out after them; but
the ice was too slippery for them, and they lost their footing. Some fell on
their backs, others sideways, and some went tottering about. The angry
Kalalek now asked his people how many of the enemy had gone out on the ice,
and whether any of them were still on shore. About this, however, they did
not agree; but at last one of them said, "That all of them had now got
down."
Immediately the furious Kalalek rushed out on the ice, spear in hand, and
another one in store. The first of the Kavdlunait he met with was instantly
speared; the others fell on approaching him, and were likewise killed. When
the point of his spear had got too sticky with blood, he would only take
time to blow it away; and before the girls had reached the open sea, he had
despatched the whole of them.
However, he turned back again, and pierced them through their bellies, in
order to complete his vengeance, and then returned to the house, where he
found the inmates all killed.
Footnotes
1 Plur. of ?avdlun����k, a foreigner, a European, a Dane.
Taken from: The Eskimo of Siberia by Waldemar Bogoras;[Leiden & New York,
1913]
It is said that the Kaladlit of the south country at times were attacked in
the autumn season, when the lakes were frozen over, and the sea-shore was
all bordered with ice. It once happened that a man had been out hunting, and
came home with two white whales. In the evening a couple of girls came
running into the house crying, "The enemy is coming upon us!" At which the
man got into a passion, and tore the fishing-line which he was busily
winding up. But when he was about to go out, the Kavdlunait were already
making an onset upon the house. The housewife, who had been newly delivered
of a child, was by means of sorcery got through a window, and several
escaped the same way; but all those who attempted to get through the
entrance were miserably killed. The master of the house, who had escaped
along with his wife, returned to bring his mother out, but finding her badly
wounded had to leave her to her fate.
Some had in this manner escaped, and hastened away to hide themselves among
the stone heaps, from whence they heard the enemy's wild shouts of triumph.
And the man had to witness his mother being dragged across the frozen lake
by a rope fastened to her tuft of hair. Though greatly enraged, he tried to
keep quiet in his hiding-place, but ordered the two girls down on the ice,
saying, "Now ye go on to the edge of the water, and when they overtake you
plunge yourselves into the sea."
Sobbing and crying, they did as they were bid. No sooner had they been
observed by the Kavdlunait than they were seen to run out after them; but
the ice was too slippery for them, and they lost their footing. Some fell on
their backs, others sideways, and some went tottering about. The angry
Kalalek now asked his people how many of the enemy had gone out on the ice,
and whether any of them were still on shore. About this, however, they did
not agree; but at last one of them said, "That all of them had now got
down."
Immediately the furious Kalalek rushed out on the ice, spear in hand, and
another one in store. The first of the Kavdlunait he met with was instantly
speared; the others fell on approaching him, and were likewise killed. When
the point of his spear had got too sticky with blood, he would only take
time to blow it away; and before the girls had reached the open sea, he had
despatched the whole of them.
However, he turned back again, and pierced them through their bellies, in
order to complete his vengeance, and then returned to the house, where he
found the inmates all killed.
Footnotes
1 Plur. of ?avdlun����k, a foreigner, a European, a Dane.
Taken from: The Eskimo of Siberia by Waldemar Bogoras;[Leiden & New York,
1913]