Page:Material Culture of the Iglulik Eskimos.djvu/245
The geographical knowledge of the Iglulik Eskimos has already been referred to in the foregoing. Time is divided according to the heavenly bodies, sun and moon. The year is divided up into: Ukioq, winter, from about December to April; Upernagssaq, spring, end of April to beginning of July; Aujaq, summer, July to end of August; Ukiagssaq, autumn, September to November. The year is also divided into months according to the moon, these having names which are usually taken from some event in the animal kingdom:
- Saggat, when the caribou have grown new hair (August).
- Akugdlêt — when the ice begins on the ponds (September).
- Ukiulêt — when winter approaches (October).
- Nuliagtut — when the caribou pair (end of October, beginning of November).
- Sikusaq — when the sea freezes over (November).
- Tâq — when the sun is going down (December).
- Avekta — when the sun is turning (latter part of December).
- Qangartarset — when the sun is rising (January).
- Avuniving — when the seals are with young (February).
- Netsiatsian — when the young seals are born (March).
- Terigloin — when the bearded seal and the musk-ox young are born (April—May).
- Norrait — when the caribou have calves (June).
- Mánin — when the eider ducks lay eggs (end of June).
- Siangijaun — when the eider ducks have young (July).
The months (taqaq) are divided according to the moon, whose phases are used in the division: Tuatukululertoq (new moon), tualilertoq, nungulertoq qutdleqortôq (first quarter), alungertoq, naqoq (full moon), naqolertôq, quidleqortôq (last quarter), siliksilertoq, taqinissartoq (almost disappeared), taqilârtoq (no moon).
The day is split up into: ublaq, from the time when the sun rises til noon: Qiterqartoq, noon. Ublume, from noon to sunset: Únuks-