486 Thomas Thomsen 



When, however, the writer extends his theory and claims that 

 the latest ruins should be due to immigration from the south, the 

 finds themselves, in my opinion, contradict him. The transition in 

 the types of implements now apparent in Scoresby Sound should in 

 such case be met with in Germania Land. The fact, as mentioned 

 by him, that graves are not found north of 77°, is rather due to con- 

 ditions of climate than to difference of culture; during a very large 

 part of the year, the material necessary for their construction is 

 hidden by snow. One of the principal arguments in favour of the 

 theory of later immigration from the south is the fact that hunting 

 from boats is seen to be carried on at places where the sea may be 

 traversed by sledge throughout three-quarters of the year. It may 

 be admitted, that a people coming from the North, and never having 

 hunted in kayaks, would hardly hit upon this method at a place 

 where s'uch conditions prevailed; it would be a different matter in 

 the case of a tribe accustomed in their original home to the use of 

 the kayak, and penetrating down to the Cape Bismarck district, not 

 in the course of generations, but without longer halts than were 

 imposed by natural circumstances, to find there conditions sufficientlj^ 

 favourable for them to settle down. 



A further important argument in favour of Hr. Thostrup's theory 

 is the hunting available; among the earlier inhabitants, the musk ox 

 was the principal game to be found on land, while with the younger, 

 the first place was taken by the reindeer. The former should thus 

 have followed the musk ox southward, the latter moving northward 

 on the track of the reindeer up to the limit of its occurrence. This 

 hypothesis, attractive enough in itself, is nevertheless hardly conclu- 

 sive Avhen not supported by the remaining facts as known. Albeit 

 instances are known of Eskimos in reindeer country having retrained 

 from hunting the animal in question,^ it is hardly surprising that 

 they should, when suddenly encountering this game, prefer it to the 

 difficult hunting which had previously been their only resource in 

 this field, more especially if they were acquainted with reindeer from 

 their original home. 



Judging from the implements, it seems to me beyond doubt that 

 the Eskimo of North-east Greenland must have come from the North. 

 Their traces then indicate the route as south of Peary Land and out 



> cf. Steensby III, p. 302. This writer gives, by the way, a plausible explanation 

 of the fact that Polar Eskimos had not previously hunted reindeer; this would, 

 he points out, be due to their having been engaged during summer in the 

 pursuit of feathered game, which would keep them away from the reindeer 

 country. 



