170 Dr John Scouler on the Indian Tribes 



known, and requires no illustration here. Extending from 

 Greenland to Aliaska, they speak everywhere the same lan- 

 guage, with dialectic variations. They inhabit the most north- 

 erly parts of the new world, and even part of the icy coasts 

 of the old. The Esquimaux tribes, inhabiting the north-west 

 angle of America, appear to have been the most numerous 

 portion of the race, in proportion to the extent of country 

 which they occupy, and, at the same time, the most social 

 and civilized. This may be accounted for by the milder cli- 

 mate of this region, by far the most temperate of any occu- 

 pied by the Esquimaux, from its numerous islands, inlets, and 

 peninsulas, which multiply, in a comparatively small space, 

 an extensive line of sea-coast adapted to their mode of life. 

 The Esquimaux of this region display much industry and in- 

 genuity, and carry on an extensive intercourse among them- 

 selves as well as with the Koluschians, and even with the in- 

 habitants of the Asiatic coast. In this part of America the 

 Esquimaux are divided into numerous small communities, 

 whose names and places of residence are to be found in Baer's 

 work, where much information may be obtained respecting 

 them. 



2. Athabascans. — This family of Indians is not numerous 

 in proportion to the extent of country which it occupies, but 

 is interesting from its position amidst so many distinct fami- 

 lies, and occupying very nearly the whole breadth of the 

 American continent. The Athabascans are everywhere se- 

 parated from the sea-coast by the Esquimaux ; and towards 

 the Mississippi River they become conterminous with the 

 Algonquin race. To the west of the Rocky Mountains, the 

 Athabas(!ans, under the names of Tacullies or Carriers, oc- 

 cupy the country called New Caledonia ; but have nowhere 

 reached the sea-coast, from which they are cut off by the Es- 

 quimaux, Koluschians, and other tribes. The Athabascan 

 tribes are separated from the Ichthyophagous tribes of the 

 coast by repugnance arising from difference of mode of life, 

 or by natural barriers. To the north, the Athabascans inha- 

 bit the head waters of the streams which flow into the Paci- 

 fic, and thus come into hostile contact with the Esquimaux. 

 Further south, they are cut off from the Koluschian and other 



