Ethnography of Russian America, 37 



Long. (See Archceologia Americana^ ii. 11.) Three degrees 

 westward, however, a change in the Esquimaux characteristics 

 takes place ; although the inhabitants of the quarters in ques- 

 tion by no means cease to be Esquimaux. The tribes already- 

 noticed may be called the Eastern, those about to be men- 

 tioned the Western Esquimaux. The dividing line is fixed 

 by Captain Franklin at 140'' W. long. The tribes on each side 

 of this line have at first a great difficulty in understanding each 

 other. Now the line between the subdivisions of the Esqui- 

 maux language coincides very nearly with the boundary line 

 of Russian America. Hence tlie ethnography of that territory 

 begins with the Western Esquimaux. 



It is no refinement to state, that, with the Western Esqui- 

 maux, we find a change in the social and moral type, exhibit- 

 ing itself in a greater appreciation of the articles of civilized 

 life, both as means of home use, and as instruments of com- 

 mercial barter. They resort annually to the eastern boundary, 

 and exchange articles of Russian manufacture for seals-skins, 

 oil, and furs. This intercourse is of late date. — Archoeologia 

 Americana, ii., 11. 



To Kotzebue's Sound and Behring's Straits the same race, 

 with similar characters, is continued. Of Behring's Straits it 

 occupies both sides, the Asiatic as well as the American. From 

 Behring's Straits to the Peninsula of Aliaska, and from thence 

 to Cook's Inlet (or Kenay Bay), every thing is unequivocally 

 Esquimaux, and has long been recognized as such. 



That a statement lately made was no refinement, may be 

 proved from the third chapter of Baer's work, where he de- 

 termines the character of the Esquimaux trade, and gives it as 

 a measure of the intercourse between Asia and America. It 

 seems referable to two centres, viz., the parts about Behring's 

 Straits, and the parts about Cook's Inlet. For the first, the mar- 

 ket extends from Icy Cape to the Promontory of Aliaska, and 

 has for its stations the islands of Behring's Straits. The second 

 district comprises the Aleutian islands, Cadiack, and the line of 

 the sea-coast as far south as Queen Charlotte's Island. Now, 

 whatever may be the amount of Russian civilization, in de- 

 termining some of the characteristics of the Western Esqui- 



