AND ESKIMOS OF UNGAVÂ. 109 



From the best information obtainable, it appears that the Naskopies were inhabitants of 

 a region far to the west, with a body of salt water lying to the east of them and a large 

 river to the sonth of them. The salt water referred to is probably that of Hudson Bay ; 

 and the river is, doubtless, the St. Lawrence. They relate that the Iroquois attempted to 

 extirpate them, and that they were driven eastward and northward where they found no 

 other Indians. The Eskimo (Inmnt, as I prefer to term them) occupied the coast region ; 

 and, after some time had elapsed, the Naskopies and Innuit engaged in a desultory kind 

 of warfare, ohm merely a few individuals engaging a similar number of their oppon- 

 ents. The prime cause of hostility was trespassing upon the hiinting-grounds of each 

 other, the Innuit asserting priority of right and endeavoring to repress the encroachment 

 of the Naskopies. The usual mode of attack was from ambush, and by the attempted 

 annihilation of the other party. To kill an enemy and destroy his property was con- 

 sidered the highest virtue, and the slayer of an enemy was overwhelmed with praise. 

 Both sides fought bravely and continued their killing until the advent of the white traders, 

 who, approaching from the sea — the source whence the Innuit drew most of his subsistence 

 — had the etï'ect of making the superstitious Indian believe his enemy to be specially 

 favored ; and, as he had proved a formidable foe, the ludiaii was pleased to effect an under- 

 standing with his opponents and establish certain boundary lines, beyond which it was 

 death to pass. The wares of the traders excited the desires of the Indians, and they found 

 it to their advantage to trade with the Innuit. A system of barter was established for the 

 Indians and Innuit with the white traders, who visited the region at irregular intervals 

 to purchase their furs and pelts. In time, the erection of permanent trading-stations had 

 the effect of convincing the men of the forest that, as the stations were on the coast and 

 among their enemies, it would be useless to continue warfare at a loss to themselves. The 

 traders came to barter and not to light ; on the contrary, they discouraged the animosity 

 existing and persuaded them to cease their profitless struggles and deA'ote their time to 

 capturing fur-bearing creatures which the trader eagerly purchased. 



The Naskopies, Mountaineers and Moose River Indians, are sprung from the same 

 stock, the Crée, extending over the centre of British North America. They are not suffi- 

 ciently differentiated to be classed as dialectically distinct ; although the linguistic diver- 

 sities between the Naskopies and Moose River Indians are greater than between the 

 Naskopies and the Mountaineers. 



Physically, the Naskopie appears to be between the two ; the Moose River (or East 

 Main) Indian is the taller, somewhat stouter, darker-skinned, and the better man of the 

 two. The Mountaineers are of smaller stature, well built and also of dark color. The 

 Naskopie derives his name from a term applied to them by the Mountaineers, in reproach 

 for their failure to fvilfil their promise in a certain preconcerted, combined attack upon 

 the Innuit of the coast. The Naskopies did not appear, and they became known as Nas- 

 kopie, or " craven-hearted." The Naskopies, however, designate themseh^es as Naynaynots, 

 or " true, ideal red men." 



They are slightly above the average height, having narrow bodies, small limbs and 

 delicate extremities ; their face is rather flat, with the exception of the cheek bones, which 

 are somewhat prominent, though not so much as in the Indians of the plains. The fore- 

 head is high and broad, the eyes small, deep-set and piercing, the mouth large and wide, 

 the lips full and hanging, the cheek sunken. Their neck is small, shoulders seldom 



