Page:Material Culture of the Iglulik Eskimos.djvu/249

In the spring of 1922, when the Igluliks were on a trading journey to Repulse Bay, the hand-shake, the white flag and the hymns spread to the Aiviliks, many of whom at once went over to the new faith; Aua was converted after his eldest son had dreamt that it was the true faith. Many old people, however, regarded it with scepticism. "Apaq has become a Christian for her food" said old Takornaq of a young woman who, on account of a birth, was under restraint by the many food prohibitions but now enthusiastically took to the new religion and discarded the old taboo rules. It had not reached Southampton Island in the winter of 1922–23; but Angutimarik had heard of it through his stepson, Audlanâq, who brought us back to Danish Island, and he expressed his distrust of it.

If no reinforcements in the form of missionaries arrive for this new "religion", if this collection of half digested or undigested maxims can be called a religion, it will presumably disappear just as quickly as it came when it no longer has the interest of novelty.