Page:A description of Greenland.djvu/231

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of Greenland.
183

whence the Angekuts receive their Torngak, or familiar Spirits. For every Angekkok has a Torngak, who attends him, after he has ten time conjured in the Dark.

From whence the Angekuts have their Torngak.Some have their own deceaſed Parents for their Torngak, and others get theirs out of ſome of our Nation, who they ſay diſcharge their Fire-arms, when they wait before the Entry of the Place, where the Angekkok performs his Conjuration. Whether Torngak and Torngarſuk be one and the ſame Thing, I ſhall not decide; but certain it is, that one is derived from the other. From Torngarſuk the Angekuts pretend they learn the Art of Conjuring; which they are taught in this Method. How a Candidate to the Miniſtry of an Angakkok becomes an Adept.If one aſpires to the Office of an Angekkok, and has a Mind to be initiated into theſe Myſteries, he muſt retire from the reſt of Mankind, into ſome remote Place, from all Com-
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merce;

    Diet, or Eating of thoſe, that are obliged to keep Abſtinence. They aſcribe alſo ſome Sort of Divinity to the Air, and for fear of offending it, they will refrain from certain Things and Actions; for which Reaſon they are afraid to go out in the open Air in the Dark.