They had their meal; they offered him food, but he hardly touched it.
He lay down to sleep. The man and his wife kept awake in terror. When
the fire burned up, and it became warm, the Chenoo asked that a screen
should be placed before him. He was from the ice; he could not endure
heat.
For three days he stayed in the wigwam; for three days he was sullen
and grim; he hardly ate. Then he seemed to change. He spoke to the
woman; he asked her if she had any tallow. She told him they had much.
He filled a large kettle; there was a gallon of it. He put it on the
fire. When it was scalding hot he drank it all off at a draught.
He became sick; he grew pale. He cast up all the horrors and
abominations of earth, things appalling to every sense. When all was
over he seemed changed. [Footnote: The Chenoo is not only a cannibal,
but a ghoul. He preys on nameless horrors. In this case, "having
yielded to the power of kindness, he has made up his mind to partake of
the food and hospitality of his hosts,"" to change his life; but to
adapt his system to the new regimen, he must thoroughly clear it of the
old."--Rand manuscript. This is a very _naive_ and curious Indian
conception of moral reformation. It appears to be a very ancient Eskimo
tale, recast in modern time by some zealous recent Christian convert.]
He lay down and slept. When he awoke he asked for food, and ate much.
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