ng time by watching for the boy's return. At last,
slowly approaching and dragging a large white owl, she saw a withered
old man, stricken with the infirmities of age. It was her grandson who
had left her but a short time previous, a merry, happy youth.

So old age was introduced into the world for the first time and has
continued ever since. And often since that day many an old Inupash[3]
who has felt the infirmity of age coming on has sighed and sincerely
wished that the boy had shown more discretion by hearkening to the
warning of the owl.

[3] Inupash, native Arctic inhabitant.

VI

TOONGNA

The belief in an evil spirit is in all probability as old as the
inhabitated world. It seems to be one of those traditions that has
descended with man from the most remote times, not having lost but
having gained strength through its long ages of descent. No matter
where one may travel, he finds the majority of mankind firm believers
in such a spirit.

Even here in the far North among the Polarites there is such a belief.
"Toongna," the evil one, is supposed to be the adversary of man, and to
him is ascribed all the misfortunes that afflict the people. Some he
makes sick, while others he causes to be unfortunate in their
undertakings. If a mother loses her new-born babe, Toongna was at the
bottom of the misfortune, and she is placed under the superstitious ban
called "Karookto," not being allowed to mingle with the rest of the
villagers for a number of months, and the same tribal law is enforced
in all families where death has occurred. Should a hunting party visit
the interior in quest of deer and not meet with success, Toongna has
followed them and been the cause of their failure. Should foul weather
with heavy gales arise at an undesirable time, Toongna has been the
cause. Hence the necessity for some one having the power to expel this
evil spirit that afflicts man in such various ways; and the
"ongootkoot," rising to the emergency of the occasion by pretending to
have the desired power, early became the important man of the tribe.

"Toongna" seems to have been one of those unfortunate spirits unworthy
of having a history, for if he ever was on earth as a mortal his
parents disowned him, and no one seems to have the least ambition to be
considered one of his descendants.

He is simply a nagger of men that has had his day. Under the growing
enlightenment of the people, his supposed power is diminishing,