Reading Notes: Part A for Week 10: Eskimo Folk Tales - Nukúnguasik, who Escaped from the Tupilak
Nukúnguasik had no wife and lived in a land with many men. When the men made a catch and had a successful hunt, they would give him meat. One day, Nukúnguasik was out on his kayak and decided to row over to this island to which he had never been before.
Upon reaching the island, Nukúnguasik started to explore the island. He followed the sound of whispering and found a man hunched over in a hollow. His insistent whispering foretold Nukúnguasik of his doom, for he learned that the man was making a Tupilak and was telling it to bite him to death.
So, Nukúnguasik snuck up on the man and slapped him, frightening him so greatly that he died. The Tupilak had been sniffing at the man's body, and so Nukúnguasik went away without harming it and rowed home. Yet, the other man did not return home, and the others were worried.
The men prepared to go out in search of their lost brother, and Nukúnguasik suggested to go search on the island where no one goes. The men came upon the sight of their deceased brother, and all came to the location at once.
All the men wept over his death, and Nukúnguasik slowly approached from behind. He then saw the sight of the Tupilak nibbling away at the body of the dead man. So, the men buried him there on the island and made a mound of stones above him.
The men went home and Nukúnguasik lived there as the oldest, eventually dying after many years.
I thought this story was interesting to read because it described a monster that can be created using magic powers to take vengeance upon an enemy. The man was in the process of making a Tupilak to kill Nukúnguasik, when he was caught in the act and died of fright. Though, the story doesn't exactly tell of why this vengeance upon Nukúnguasik was sought or what he had done. Yet, Nukúnguasik never disclosed his hand in the death of his brother to his fellow men.
Bibliography: Nukúnguasik, who Escaped from the Tupilak from Eskigo Folk-Tales by Knud Rasmussen with illustrations by native Eskimo artists (1921)
Upon reaching the island, Nukúnguasik started to explore the island. He followed the sound of whispering and found a man hunched over in a hollow. His insistent whispering foretold Nukúnguasik of his doom, for he learned that the man was making a Tupilak and was telling it to bite him to death.
So, Nukúnguasik snuck up on the man and slapped him, frightening him so greatly that he died. The Tupilak had been sniffing at the man's body, and so Nukúnguasik went away without harming it and rowed home. Yet, the other man did not return home, and the others were worried.
The men prepared to go out in search of their lost brother, and Nukúnguasik suggested to go search on the island where no one goes. The men came upon the sight of their deceased brother, and all came to the location at once.
All the men wept over his death, and Nukúnguasik slowly approached from behind. He then saw the sight of the Tupilak nibbling away at the body of the dead man. So, the men buried him there on the island and made a mound of stones above him.
The men went home and Nukúnguasik lived there as the oldest, eventually dying after many years.
I thought this story was interesting to read because it described a monster that can be created using magic powers to take vengeance upon an enemy. The man was in the process of making a Tupilak to kill Nukúnguasik, when he was caught in the act and died of fright. Though, the story doesn't exactly tell of why this vengeance upon Nukúnguasik was sought or what he had done. Yet, Nukúnguasik never disclosed his hand in the death of his brother to his fellow men.
Man Making a Tupilak from Various Animal Bones - Courtesy of Wikisource
Bibliography: Nukúnguasik, who Escaped from the Tupilak from Eskigo Folk-Tales by Knud Rasmussen with illustrations by native Eskimo artists (1921)
Comments
Post a Comment