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The Eskimo of Siberia, by Waldemar Bogoras, [1913], at sacred-texts.com


2. The Carrier of Seaweed.

   An old woman lived with her grandson, a young orphan. One day the lad walked along the shore, gathering edible seaweed. He sang, "I am walking along the shore, gathering seaweed. I will put it into the fold of my shirt, and I will carry it home." He gathered a heavy load of it and carried it home. Then he entered into the outer house, and called to the old woman, "Halloo!" — "Ho!" — "How shall I bring it into the sleeping-room?" The sleeping-room was ever so small. "I do not know. Come in as through the eye of a needle!" — "Which needle's eye?" — "This one." She thrust a needle out of the sleeping-room, and he passed through along with his load. So skilful are the people of Uñi´sak. That is all.

Told by Ñịpe´wġi, an Asiatic Eskimo man, in the village of Uñi´sak, at Indian Point, May, 1901.


Next: 3. The One without Arms.