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Updated: June 26, 2025
At the centre and lowest part of the valley, Makitok, or rather Makitok's forefathers, had built their dwelling. It was a hut, resembling the huts of the Eskimos. No other hut was to be seen. The angekok loved solitude. Beside the hut there stood a small truncated cone about fifteen feet high, on the summit of which sat an old white-bearded man, who intently watched the approaching travellers.
Rooney certainly did move at the moment, for the conversation had tickled him a good deal, and the last remark was almost too much for him. Not wishing, however, to let the angekok go without some conversation, he conveniently awoke, yawned, and stretched himself.
He told them what had moved the brethren to settle in the country, and invited them to come to him. They heard him with astonishment speak of the great love of the Saviour to men, and asked if he was an Angekok, as he spoke of such high things as they never had heard, even from their own prophets?
"I cannot tell exactly what you will see, because I am not an angekok, and have no torngak to tell me; but I am quite sure that you will see something! Only, the benefit of seeing it will depend on your running as fast as you can. Now, are you ready?" "Yes, quite ready," exclaimed the youth, tightening his girdle of sealskin eagerly. "Well then away!" shouted Rooney.
He went therefore direct to the point, without introduction or ceremony, by asking the angekok who he was and where he came from. After catechising him closely, he then sought to establish a kind of superiority over him by voluntarily relating his own story, as we have already given it, and thus preventing his being questioned in return by the wizard.
The good-natured Arbalik offered him another spear, but Ujarak interposed. "No; Ippegoo must come with me," he said. "I have work for him to do. One who would be an angekok must leave bird-spearing to boys." Then turning to Arbalik "Did you not say that the hunters have found plenty of game?" "Yes, plenty." "I told you so," said the wizard, using a phrase not unfamiliar to civilised ears.
When it is added that his fights were often single-handed against the Polar bear, it may be understood that both his activity and courage were great. He was not an angekok, for, like his friend Angut, he did not believe in wizards; nevertheless he was very truly an angekok, in the sense of being an uncommonly wise man, and his countrymen, recognising the fact, paid him suitable respect.
But all that will be changed to-morrow. Once an angekok, your foolishness will depart, and wisdom will come." The poor youth was much cheered by this, because, although he felt utterly unfit for the grave and responsible character, he had enough of faith in his teacher to believe that the needed change would take place, and change, he was well aware, could achieve wonders.
The man said this quietly, and in a tone of regret, but without the slightest intention of expressing poetical ideas, or laying claim to originality of thought. Yet his distinct denial of being an angekok or wise man, and his sentiments regarding the voices of Nature, only confirmed his countrymen in their belief that he was the greatest angekok they had ever seen or heard of.
"What could be more agreeable than to see the striving of two such good friends as Angut my host and Ujarak the angekok?"
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