. Report of the Canadian Arctic Expedition 1913-18. Scientific expeditions. Shamanism 215 knife. This disposed of one shade, but almost immediately the kila became heavy again through the entrance of another, Alak, as I suggested. Ikpakhuak tried to evict it in the same manner, but failed. Then a man suggested that Higilak should breathe on the bundle, and this was successful. "It'sheavy again," she said a moment later. Ikpakhuak caught hold of the cord and said, "No, it's ; "Heavy, surely," she replied, not too well pleased, I fancied, at her husband's inte
. Report of the Canadian Arctic Expedition 1913-18. Scientific expeditions. Shamanism 215 knife. This disposed of one shade, but almost immediately the kila became heavy again through the entrance of another, Alak, as I suggested. Ikpakhuak tried to evict it in the same manner, but failed. Then a man suggested that Higilak should breathe on the bundle, and this was successful. "It'sheavy again," she said a moment later. Ikpakhuak caught hold of the cord and said, "No, it's ; "Heavy, surely," she replied, not too well pleased, I fancied, at her husband's interference. "Gp on," said a woman spectator. Higilak did not trouble to enquire the name of the shade this time, but merely said "Go away," and struck the kila with her knife and breathed on it. The bundle at once became light; all the malignant shades had been disposed of, and nothing re- mained presumably to prevent my recovery. A year later Higilak reminded me of this performance, and claimed that she had been instrumental in curing me of my Fig. 61. Ilatsiak, the most important shaman among the Copper Eskimos Of the other divining performances that Higilak held at various times one has a certain interest for our purpose. It took place in August, at a time when no caribou had been sighted for several days and our food supplies were running low. Besides myself and Higilak there was only Ikpakhuak in the tent, and he was sound asleep. Higilak divined with my coats as usual, but when she found that the shade of a dead kinsman of Ikpakhuak was recalcitrant and would not leave the bundle she roused her husband from his sleep to propitiate it with fair words and induce it to leave us. The last instance of divination that I was to witness was tinged with pathos, and would alone have dispelled any doubts I might still have possessed as to Higilak's good faith in these performances. I was paying the old couple one of my final visits before we left their co
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