70 Alaskan Science Conference 



lect which they speak today. In addition, it has been found 

 that all Aleut place names for the northern half of Umnak 

 Island, insofar as they are identifiable, still keep Central dialect 

 forms. Thus, the westward movement of the Eastern dialect 

 appears to have progressed within historic times, continuing a 

 trend already in operation long before the arrival of the 

 Russians. 



Another way in which linguistic studies have thrown light 

 on the westward movement of the Aleuts is found in the his- 

 torical legend of Chiming, told by the Attu Aleuts. This legend 

 tells of the arrival of Umnak Aleuts and of the subsequent mix- 

 ture of the former Attu dialect with the Umnak dialect. Cer- 

 tain structural resemblances between the Eastern and Western 

 dialects, as contrasted with the Central dialect, confirm the 

 historical value of this legend. 



Comparative data are lacking for many of the southern Eski- 

 mos such as the Koniags of Kodiak Island, the Ugalak and the 

 Chugach Eskimos. Many native speakers of Koniag still survive 

 and informants for a study of the other dialects might still be 

 found. Similarly, linguistic studies of the Indians, such as the 

 Eyak and the Kenai, and of other Indians adjacent to the Eski- 

 mos, remain to be done. Owing to the fact that the younger 

 speakers of these languages or dialects are not as conversant 

 with the linguistic structure, and not only have smaller vocabu- 

 laries but also less knowledge of the areas occupied by various 

 speakers, it is important to conduct linguistic studies while the 

 older informants are still alive. 



Physical Anthropology 



A new perspective is necessary in order to deal successfully 

 with the problems of physical anthropology. It is necessary to 

 realize that the Eskimo stock as a whole consists of many indi- 

 vidual breeding isolates, each varying from all others in some 

 respects. Therefore, it is not permissible to assume that any 

 one contemporary breeding isolate of the Eskimos represents 

 more accurately the "Eskimo type" than any other isolate. The 

 Eskimos provide an exceptional opportunity for studies in 



