ve. I have visited that
underworld, many times, I have talked there with the spirits of your
ancestors."

The Angakok paused and looked around to see if every one was paying
attention. Then he went on with his story.

"Do you remember how two springs ago there were so few walruses and
seals along the coast that you nearly died for lack of food and oil?"
he said. "My children, it was I who brought the seals and walruses back
to you! Without my efforts you might all have starved!

"I will tell you of the perils of a fearful journey which I undertook
for your sakes. Then you will see what you owe to the skill and
faithfulness of your Angakok!"

All the people looked very solemn, and nodded their heads. The Angakok
went on.

"You must know that in the depths of the underworld, far beyond the
beautiful abode of the Spirits of the Dead, lives the Old Woman of the
Sea!

"There she sits forever and forever beside a monstrous lamp. Underneath
the lamp is a great saucer to catch the oil which drips from it.

"In that saucer there are whole flocks of sea-birds swimming about! All
the animals that live in the sea--the whales and walruses, the codfish
and the seals--swarm in the saucer of the Old Woman of the Sea. That is
where they all come from. Sometimes the Old Woman of the Sea keeps all
the creatures in the saucer. Then there are no seal or fish or walrus
along our coasts, and there is hunger among the innuit (human beings).

"At the time of my journey she had kept all the creatures for so long a
time in her saucer that you and many others were nearly dead for lack
of food."

"It was then that I prepared myself for the perils of this journey to
the underworld. I called my Tornak, or guiding spirit, to lead my
steps. Without his Tornak an Angakok can do nothing. The Tornak came at
once in answer to my call. He took me by the hand, and we plunged down
into the water. First we passed through the beautiful World of Spirits,
where it is always summer. This part of the way was quite pleasant, but
on the farther side of that world we came to a fearful abyss. It could
be crossed only on a large slippery wheel, as slippery as ice."

"I mounted this wheel and was whirled across the chasm. No sooner had I
reached the other side than new terrors came upon me. I had to pass by
great cauldrons of boiling oil, in which seals were swimming about."

"A misstep would have sent me plunging into the boiling oil, and you
would have lo