Carlsberg Foundation

The present volume is designed to be essentially a popular, as distinct from a scientific work.

The original collection of stories and legends made by Knut Rasmussen under the auspices of the Carlsberg Foundation has never yet been published.

In making the present selection, I have endeavored to choose those which are most characteristic and best calculated to give an idea of the life and thought of the people.

The clearest variants have been chosen, and vague or doubtful passages omitted, so as to render the narratives easily understandable for the ordinary reader.

In many cases also, the extreme outspokenness of the primitive people concerned has necessitated further editing, in respect of which I can confidently refer any inclined to protest to the unabridged English version, lodged with the trustees of the Carlsberg Foundation in Copenhagen for my defense.

For the rest, I have endeavored to keep as closely as possible to the spirit and tone of the originals, working from the Eskimo text and Knut Rasmussen's Danish version side by side.

The illustrations are by native Eskimo artists.