frighten both children and...adults: "The Danish botanist Christian Kruuse lived in Ammassalik from 1898 to 1902 and made a number of observations about masks, the presence of which in Ammassalik were a revelation to the ethnological world. He wrote that: 'the inhabitants of Ammasalik carved masks in driftwood…they are not used as one could think it…for religious reasons…If they had such a value, it has been lost…they are now toys which are used to frighten children….'" R.Gessain, "Dance Masks of Ammassalik" (East Coast of Greenland) Arctic Anthropology Vol 21. No 2, 1984.

The had masks with them: "To understand Kruuse’s statements, one needs to place them in the context of Ammassilik culture at the very beginning of the twentieth century.The missionary F.C.P. Rüttel, established there since 1894, had acquired enough influence to forbid the use of every drum, dance, and mask, which he considered inimical to his evangelization. He demanded that all things that he considered to be pagan were to be thrown into the fire or the sea." Ibid.

This big face: The mask is from, R. Gessain, “Dance Masks of Ammassalik" (East Coast of Greenland) Arctic Anthropology Vol 21. No.2, 1984.

The missionary Rüttel: The missionary F.C.P. Rüttel, established there since 1894, had acquired enough influence to forbid the use of every drum, dance, and mask, which he considered inimical to his evangelization. He demanded that all things that he considered to be pagan were to be thrown into the fire or the sea.” R.Gessain, “Dance Masks of Ammassalik" (East Coast of Greenland) Arctic Anthropology Vol 21. No 2, 1984.