Native American Legends
Aterfio
An Eskimo Legend
Two widows, having each a son, had chosen their winter quarters
at no great distance from one another. Both of them happened to
have several neighbors; but though these principally consisted of
rich and prosperous people, they did not think of assisting the
poor orphans. Having lost their supporters, the widows suffered
much from want, and they therefore admonished their young sons to
be wise and kind to the other children, lest they should be deprived
of the scanty help they now enjoyed. At last, however, the relatives
furnished the orphans with kayaks. He who lived furthest south was
named Aterfio, and the other one living to the north was called
Sukallassok.
They grew up to be much renowned for their strength and vigor.
They always chose their hunting-places far off the coast; and even
in hard weather and heavy gales went out, and never came home empty-handed.
On their return they always used to give the orphans a plentiful
repast, and had special stores of provisions set apart for orphan
children against hard times.
One day Aterfio had gone out hunting beyond the skerries and islands;
the wind was northerly and the sky clear. He had already got two
seals, and, expecting to catch some more, he still rowed on, till
all of a sudden he heard a noise, and turning round, beheld Sukalassok
with raised arm aiming his harpoon at him. Not being able to make
any resistance, he was obliged to await his fate; keeping his eyes
on him, he capsized his kayak towards him so as make the harpoon
only touch the side of it. As soon as he again had risen, the thought
flashed through him to revenge himself on Sukalassok; but be gave
up the idea and turned towards home.
On his arrival he did not mention the matter at all; but sometime
later, in a gale from the north, the same thing happened over again.
He forbore to take revenge; but this time told those at home that
Sukalassok had twice attempted to kill him. But his mother bade
him not to take revenge. "Never mind," she went on; "let
him go on as be likes, only thou shun his companionship."
Soon after, however, Aterfio being busy in his hunting-grounds,
suddenly heard a whizzing sound close by, and presently afterwards
was grazed by an arrow, which fell into the water alongside of him.
His wrath was now up, and be could not resist paying him back. In
less than no time be leveled his harpoon at Sukalassok and killed
him right off.
At home he reported his deed, and said be would flee to the south,
thinking it probable that the relatives of Sukalassok might take
part with the slain and pursue him. But his mother told him be need
not fear his new enemies, and he remained at the old place as before.
Soon after he married and got a son, whom be called Akeralik.
One day an old man came to visit them, who reported that the relatives
of Sukalossok were ill-minded towards Aterfio; to which he rejoined,
"They are quite welcome to anything; and thou mayst tell them
that I myself, my little son, and the rest of the household, are
ready to receive them whenever they like." But from that day
they grew suspicious, and not long afterwards a great many strange
boats appeared off the coast. At the sight Aterfio went in, relieved
himself of his jacket, went straight down to the beach, and seated
himself on a flat stone with his back turned to the sea.
Rowing on, the kayakers deliberated among themselves who should
be the first to wound him. Some of them quickly gained upon the
rest, and on coming quite close to him, the foremost took up his
harpoon to strike him; although it hit the mark, it did him no harm,
but the harpoon broke in three pieces.
The next kayakers likewise un-launched their harpoons at him, but
had them broken in the same manner without wounding him in the least.
They now held a council, and agreed in landing to try a match with
him on shore. Aterfio willingly attended. The strangers stayed the
night over; and early the next morning four stout and powerful men
made their way through the entrance; but Aterfio said, "My
house is too small, let us fight in the open air." Having reached
the meadow above, one of the strong men instantly rushed in upon
Aterfio to try a wrestling-match with him; but Aterfio only turned
to him and thrust him down as easily as if he had been a fox, upon
which he soon died.
The foreigners now made a general assault on him, but he shook
them off like children, and on the way home he killed the whole
of them. After this Aterfio trained his son to all kinds of daring
feats on land as well as at sea; and thus Akeralik grew to be a
man, and was still stronger and even more fearless than his father.
His hunting-ground was far out at sea, and he hunted seals and white
whales alike, and could keep his breath under water as well as any
seal.
One day when they were a long way off the coast, a small-topped
cloud rose on the horizon. Aterfio asked his son, "Dost thou
see the cloud yonder? When the mists come up from that side it will
not be child's-play; let us put back with all speed." They
put their seals on the top of their kayaks and made them fast with
the harpoon-lines, and headed for the shore. Each of them had captured
two seals. Scarcely had they put about, before a heavy gale came
rushing down upon them, turning the sea into one mass of foam, and
completely hiding the land.
A roaring noise was now heard, and Aterfio said, "Take care
we don't smash together; keep further away from me." At the
same time he saw a great sea topped with foam close upon them, and
turning side on, bolted across them; but notwithstanding, they kept
their breath and rowed away under water until they soon afterwards
both emerged on the surface. At last his son got a tear in his thick
outer jacket; then he spoke to his father, "Now mind thine
own self, I must needs speed on;" and he skimmed the surface
like a falcon pursuing his prey, and was lost to sight in less than
a moment. Both safely reached home.
About this time the South Landers happened to hear the fame of
the mighty Aterfio and of his son Akeralik, who with his kayak matched
a falcon in speed. Among this people of the south there was a strong
man named Tajarnek, who greatly longed to have an encounter with
Aterfio. One day Aterfio and all his family remained at home.
The air was clear and the weather fine. They saw a great many boats
and kayaks apparently passing by their place; but Aterfio came down
to the water's edge, and hailed them, shouting, "Where are
ye for? It is late in the evening; ye had better put in and take
shelter with us for the night." One of the men replied, "We
have heard of the mighty Aterfio, and have come to offer him a match."
Aterfio replied, "He whom ye see is nothing extraordinary,
but his son is a man of great strength;" so saying, he pointed
to him as he stood at his side, to let them know of whom he was
speaking.
The kayakers stopped short in great amazement, never thinking him
to be the person in question. But Aterfio went on, "But here
is a first-rate landing-place, and ye can pass the night here."
Accordingly they landed; and after a needful rest, they all resorted
to a level spot above the houses. Tajarnek first seized Aterfio,
but was soon thrown over without being hurt, however.
Several times they closed with him, but Aterfio was as staunch
as a rock. Akeralik now thought it time for him to interfere; every
man he touched was soon thrown down. At first they turned them over
without injuring them further; but at length they slew Tajarnek
and all the rest. All the South Landers, women and children included,
were thus put to death.
From this time upwards Aterfio roamed all along the coast-side,
and father and son were equally renowned; and they both ended their
days without ever having been wounded them know of whom he was speaking.
The kayakers stopped short in great amazement, never thinking him
to be the person in question. But Aterfio went on, "But here
is a first-rate landing-place, and ye can pass the night here."
Accordingly they landed; and after a needful rest, they all resorted
to a level spot above the houses. Tajarnek first seized Aterfio,
but was soon thrown over-without being hurt, however.
Several times they closed with him, but Aterfio was as staunch
as a rock. Akeralik now thought it time for him to interfere; every
man he touched was soon thrown down. At first they turned them over
without injuring them further; but at length they slew Tajarnek
and all the rest. All the South Landers, women and children included,
were thus put to death. From this time upwards Aterfio roamed all
along the coast-side, and father and son were equally renowned;
and they both ended their days without ever having been wounded.
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