按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
mangled； the story of Joseph in Egypt； but from it I got an idea； and soon I
had half the tribe at work building me great meat caches。 And of all they
hunted I got the lion's share and stored it away。 Nor was Moosu idle。
He made himself a pack of cards from birch bark； and taught Neewak the
way to play seven…up。 He also inveigled the father of Tukeliketa into the
game。 And one day he married the maiden； and the next day he moved
into the shaman's house； which was the finest in the village。 The fall of
Neewak was complete； for he lost all his possessions； his walrus… hide
drums； his incantation toolseverything。 And in the end he became a
hewer of wood and drawer of water at the beck and call of Moosu。 And
Moosuhe set himself up as shaman； or high priest； and out of his garbled
Scripture created new gods and made incantation before strange altars。
〃And I was well pleased； for I thought it good that church and state go
hand in hand； and I had certain plans of my own concerning the state。
Events were shaping as I had foreseen。 Good temper and smiling faces
had vanished from the village。 The people were morose and sullen。
There were quarrels and fighting； and things were in an uproar night and
day。 Moosu's cards were duplicated and the hunters fell to gambling
among themselves。 Tummasook beat his wife horribly； and his mother's
brother objected and smote him with a tusk of walrus till he cried aloud in
the night and was shamed before the people。 Also； amid such diversions
no hunting was done； and famine fell upon the land。 The nights were
long and dark； and without meat no hooch could be bought； so they
murmured against the chief。 This I had played for； and when they were
well and hungry； I summoned the whole village； made a great harangue；
posed as patriarch； and fed the famishing。 Moosu made harangue
likewise； and because of this and the thing I had done I was made chief。
Moosu； who had the ear of God and decreed his judgments； anointed me
22
… Page 23…
The Faith of Men
with whale blubber； and right blubberly he did it； not understanding the
ceremony。 And between us we interpreted to the people the new theory
of the divine right of kings。 There was hooch galore； and meat and
feastings； and they took kindly to the new order。
〃So you see； O man； I have sat in the high places； and worn the purple；
and ruled populations。 And I might yet be a king had the tobacco held
out； or had Moosu been more fool and less knave。 For he cast eyes upon
Esanetuk； eldest daughter to Tummasook； and I objected。
〃'O brother；' he explained； 'thou hast seen fit to speak of introducing
new institutions amongst this people； and I have listened to thy words and
gained wisdom thereby。 Thou rulest by the God…given right； and by the
God…given right I marry。'
〃I noted that he 'brothered' me； and was angry and put my foot down。
But he fell back upon the people and made incantations for three days； in
which all hands joined； and then； speaking with the voice of God； he
decreed polygamy by divine fiat。 But he was shrewd； for he limited the
number of wives by a property qualification； and because of which he；
above all men； was favoured by his wealth。 Nor could I fail to admire；
though it was plain that power had turned his head； and he would not be
satisfied till all the power and all the wealth rested in his own hands。 So
he became swollen with pride； forgot it was I that had placed him there；
and made preparations to destroy me。
〃But it was interesting； for the beggar was working out in his own way
an evolution of primitive society。 Now I； by virtue of the hooch
monopoly； drew a revenue in which I no longer permitted him to share。
So he meditated for a while and evolved a system of ecclesiastical taxation。
He laid tithes upon the people； harangued about fat firstlings and such
things； and twisted whatever twisted texts he had ever heard to serve his
purpose。 Even this I bore in silence； but when he instituted what may be
likened to a graduated income…tax； I rebelled； and blindly； for this was
what he worked for。 Thereat； he appealed to the people； and they；
envious of my great wealth and well taxed themselves； upheld him。
'Why should we pay；' they asked； 'and not you？ Does not the voice of
23
… Page 24…
The Faith of Men
God speak through the lips of Moosu； the shaman？' So I yielded。 But
at the same time I raised the price of hooch； and lo； he was not a whit
behind me in raising my taxes。
〃Then there was open war。 I made a play for Neewak and
Tummasook； because of the traditionary rights they possessed； but Moosu
won out by creating a priesthood and giving them both high office。 The
problem of authority presented itself to him； and he worked it out as it has
often been worked before。 There was my mistake。 I should have been
made shaman； and he chief； but I saw it too late； and in the clash of
spiritual and temporal power I was bound to be worsted。 A great
controversy waged； but it quickly became one… sided。 The people
remembered that he had anointed me； and it was clear to them that the
source of my authority lay； not in me； but in Moosu。 Only a few faithful
ones clung to me； chief among whom Angeit was； while he headed the
popular party and set whispers afloat that I had it in mind to overthrow
him and set up my own gods； which were most unrighteous gods。 And in
this the clever rascal had anticipated me； for it was just what I had
intended forsake my kingship； you see； and fight spiritual with spiritual。
So he frightened the people with the iniquities of my peculiar gods
especially the one he named 'Biz…e…Nass'and nipped the scheme in the
bud。
〃Now； it happened that Kluktu； youngest daughter to Tummasook； had
caught my fancy； and I likewise hers。 So I made overtures； but the ex…
chief refused bluntlyafter I had paid the purchase priceand informed
me that she was set aside for Moosu。 This was too much； and I was half
of a mind to go to his igloo and slay him with my naked hands； but I
recollected that the tobacco was near gone； and went home laughing。
The next day he made incantation； and distorted the miracle of the loaves
and fishes till it became prophecy； and I； reading between the lines； saw
that it was aimed at the wealth of meat stored in my caches。 The people
also read between the lines； and； as he did not urge them to go on the hunt；
they remained at home； and few caribou or bear were brought in。
〃But I had plans of my own； seeing that not only the tobacco but the
24
… Page 25…
The Faith of Men
flour and molasses were near gone。 And further； I felt it my duty to
prove the white man's wisdom and bring sore distress to Moosu； who had
waxed high…stomached； what of the power I had given him。 So that night
I went to my meat caches and toiled mightily； and it was noted next day
that all the dogs of the village were lazy。 No one suspected； and I toiled
thus every night； and the dogs grew fat and fatter； and the people lean and
leaner。 They grumbled and demanded the fulfilment of prophecy； but
Moosu restrained them； waiting for their hunger to grow yet greater。 Nor
did he dream； to the very last； of the trick I had been playing on the empty
caches。
〃When all was ready； I sent Angeit； and the faithful ones whom I had