Angekok Poglit

Angekok Poglit is a great wise physician and conjurer of a higher grade among the Greenlanders. In order to become one of these, the Angekok withdraws from men into a secluded hut, where he makes his desire known to Torngarsuk, the Great Spirit of the Greenlanders; The latter then appears to him as a white bear, drags the Angekok to the sea, and plunges with him into it. After both have been devoured by a walrus, the body of the Angekok is thrown piece by piece on the shore; whereupon the soul takes possession of the body again, and now he can draw himself into heaven by a long rope, and let himself down into the infernal regions. The latter is not so easily accomplished. The object is to liberate the sea lions held by the queen of the infernal regions, and this can only be done in company with the Torngak.