The North-West Passage by Roald Amundsen

Author:Roald Amundsen [Amundsen, Roald]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: SBT

The Eskimo are not altogether without forethought for the future. Their stock of meat and fish will last over Christmas and a little way into the new year. According to their law, seal-catching must not commence before the middle of January, and even then it is carried on only on a small scale for some time, as the seals, which have very sharp ears, can hear the huntsman’s step a long way off, while the layer of snow on the ground is thin, and consequently they can keep out of his way. Therefore, from the middle of January up to some time in February is their period of greatest privation. Thus it happened during their stay at Gjöahavn in 1905 that, for several days, just about this period, some of them were absolutely starving. Nor could we help them much, for if we gave anything to one they would all come, and we should soon have had the whole colony to feed; so I had to lay down the law that no food was to be distributed — and enforce it.

One night, after seal-catching had commenced, I was invited to witness the “kelaudi,” the Eskimo’s favourite festival, held in order to propitiate the higher powers to induce them to favour a good catch. The air was clear and frosty, and the vast silent desert was lit up by the moon so brightly that one could easily have read by her rays. In the midst of the many igloos of the camp, the large gala igloo, erected for the occasion, towered above the rest, with bright light streaming invitingly from all its ice-windows. We arrived early, so as not to miss anything. The hut looked very well inside, being brilliantly illuminated with “light pastilles.” A large ring of snow-blocks had been set up in the centre of the floor. Some of the men of the colony had already arrived, and entertained us as well as they could. They were decked to-night in their lightest and most elegantly-ornamented reindeer clothing. Some of these were actual masterpieces of taste and skill. By and by the rest of the audience arrived — Anana, Kabloka, Onaller, Alerpa, AlgAlo, and whatever names the others are called by, not to forget “Nalungia,” there being at least ten of that name. “Örna” (the she-eagle) was the last of a row of at least twenty women, who all sat down silently and demurely on the snow-blocks arranged in a circle. They certainly did not look as if they were in a festive mood, any of them. The men took up their places at random around the women, and there was soon a full muster of them. In contrast to the women, they were all lively and full of fun and laughter. It looked as if they were the only ones who were to enjoy themselves. At last the leading “senior” appears. Tonight it is Kachkochnelli who acts in this capacity. He is arrayed in a light embroidered reindeer-skin dress, but he is wearing a cap and gloves.

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