12 NATURAL HISTORY OF ARCTIC AMERICA. 



from Cape Mercy on the east to Xugumeute on tlie west, not to exceed 

 four liundrcfl individuals. It is certain tlint within the last thirty yerrs 

 the mortality has been very great among them; even the whalemen 

 remark an astonishing diminution in their numbers at the present day, 

 as comx)ared with twenty years ago. 



Numerous traditions exist among them of the time when they warred 

 with other tribes, and old men, now living, have pointed out to ns islands 

 that were once the scene of battles, wliere the besieged party was starved 

 into submission b^> their enemies. According to the usual story, the 

 hurling of stones was one of the most effective and common modes of 

 warfare ; this was especially the case when one party could get upon a 

 ledge above the other. At the present day they are peaceful and quiet, 

 have no recognized leader, and no desire to fight, even if their numbers 

 would permit of it. 



As the story goes, the present population w^ere the victors in those 

 fights, and took possession of the country they now inhabit. Some say 

 they came from the northwest, and found another tribe, w^ich they 

 overcame and drove away. Their stories on this subject vary, and 

 sometimes with this iTUusually interesting tradition, as well as many 

 others, they get events of a very recent date hopelessly mixed up with 

 the rest; and it Is no unusual instance to find that some whaler with a 

 good imagination has supplied and restored lost portions of the nar- 

 rative, to their entire satisfaction; but these restorations are chiefly 

 remarkable for their utter disregard of truth or possibility. 



The following tradition is a translation from one of the most reliable 

 natives we became acquainted with : 



"A long time ago {tichemaniacllo)* other Innuits (Eskimo) were found 

 here ; they were called " Tunak";t they were very strong, very large, and 

 had short legs and large arms; they had very wide chests. Their clothes 

 were made of bear skins, and their knives from Avalrus tusks. Did not 

 use bows and arrows, but only the harpoon-lance; they harpooned the 

 reindeer in the water, from their kyacks ; used very large kyacks. The 



*Here arises a great difficulty: tichemani siguifies a long time, i.e., it may be any- 

 where from a week to a year; ticliemaniadlo is a very much longer period, generally 

 conceded to antedate the advent of the whites ; at least, this was the only example 

 we could bring up which they could understand, excejit their own ages, which we could 

 ascertain with less certainty. When a vo-y long period (as in this case) is represented 

 as having intervened, they repeat ticliemaniadlo several times, but how much time is 

 added by each repetition we are unable to say. 



t Variously pronounced, "Tunarc," "Tunnuk," or "Tunuak." 



