1827 



300 VOYAGE TO THE 



CHAP, rica, from 60^ 34' N. to 71^ 24' N., and are a nation 



VII. 



^ J of fishermen dwelling upon or near the sea shore, from 



Oct. which they derive almost exclusively their subsistence. 

 They construct yourts or winter residences upon those 

 parts of the shore which are adapted to their conve- 

 nience, such as the mouths of rivers, the entrances of 

 inlets, or jutting points of land, but always upon low 

 ground. They form themselves into communities, 

 which seldom exceed a hundred persons ; though in 

 some few instances they have amounted to upwards 

 of two hundred. Between the above-mentioned limits 

 we noticed nineteen of these villages, some of which 

 were very small, and consisted of only a few huts, and 

 others appeared to have been deserted a long time ; 

 but allowing them all to be inhabited in the winter, the 

 whole population, I should think, including Kow-ee- 

 rock, would not amount to more than 2500 persons. 

 I do not pretend to say that this estimate is accurate, 

 as from the manner in which the people are dispersed 

 along the coast in the summer, it is quite impossi- 

 ble that it should be so ; but it may serve to show 

 that the tribe is not very numerous. 



As we landed upon every part of the coast, to which 

 these villages appear to be confined, it is not likely 

 that many escaped our observation ; neither is it pro- 

 bable that there are many inland or far up the rivers, 

 as frequent access to the sea is essential to the habits 

 of the people. Besides this may further be inferred, 

 from the circumstance of no Esquimaux villages being 

 found up either the M'Kenzie or Coppermine rivers, 

 and from the swampy nature of the country in gene- 

 ral, and the well-known hostile disposition of the In- 

 dians towards the Esquimaux. 



Their yourts or winter residences are partly exca- 

 vated in the earth, and partly covered with moss laid 



