All light having been carefully excluded from the scene of operations, the
sorcerer began by vehemently chanting to his wife, who, in her turn, responded
with the Amna-aya, the favourite song of the Eskimo. This lasted throughout the
ceremony. Afterwards, Toolemak began to turn himself round very rapidly,
vociferating for Tomga, in a loud powerful voice and with great impatience, at
the same time blowing and snorting like a walrus. His noise, agitation, and
impatience increased every moment, and at length he seated himself on the deck,
varying his tones, and making a rustling with his clothes.
Suddenly the voice seemed smothered, and was so managed as to give the idea
that it was retreating beneath the deck, each moment becoming more distant, and
ultimately sounding as if it were many feet below the cabin, when it ceased
entirely. In answer to Captain Lyon’s queries, the sorcerer’s wife seriously
declared that he had dived and would send up Tomga.
And, in about half a minute, a distant blowing was heard approaching very
slowly, and a voice differing from that which had first been audible was mixed
with the blowing, until eventually both sounds became distinct, and the old
beldame said that Tomga had come to answer the stranger’s questions. Captain
Lyon thereupon put several queries to the sagacious spirit, receiving what was
understood to be an affirmative or a favourable answer by two loud slaps on the
deck.
A very hollow yet powerful voice, certainly differing greatly from that of
Toolemak, then chanted for some time; and a singular medley of hisses, groans,
shouts, and gobblings like a turkey’s, followed in swift succession. The old
woman sang with increased energy, and as Captain Lyon conjectured that the
exhibition was intended to astonish “the Kabloona,” he said repeatedly that he
was greatly terrified. As he expected, this admission added fuel to the flame,
until the form immortal, exhausted by its own might, asked leave to retire. The
voice gradually died away out of hearing, as at first, and a very indistinct hissing
succeeded. In its advance it sounded like the tone produced by the wind upon the
bass cord of an Æolian harp; this was soon changed to a rapid hiss, like that of a
rocket, and Toolemak, with a yell, announced the spirit’s return. At the first
distant sibilation Captain Lyon held his breath, and twice exhausted himself; but
the Eskimo conjuror did not once respire, and even his returning and powerful
yell was uttered without previous pause or inspiration of air.
When light was admitted, the wizard, as might be expected, was in a state of
profuse perspiration, and greatly exhausted by his exertions, which had