THE ESKIMOS : THEIR GOVERNMENT 31 



is not very probable. If pure type and culture 

 may be considered as significant, I should say that 

 the Eskimos west and north of Hudson's Bay have 

 retained their ancient characteristics more than 

 any others. If their original home was in Alaska, 

 We must add the hypothesis that then* dispersion 

 began before contact with the Indians. If their 

 home was east of the Mackenzie, the gradual dis- 

 persion and seeming contact with other tribes 

 would account for all the observed phenomena. A 

 final solution of this interesting question might 

 be obtained by means of archaeological research on 

 the coast of Bering Sea." 



And there, as far as these pages are concerned, 

 the problem must be left. 



As to government among the Eskimos, there is 

 almost nothing to be said, except that outside the 

 family it is practically non-existent. There are no 

 chiefs over tribes, no rulers and no laws. It is 

 true that sometimes a man will be recognized as a 

 sort of leader, but this is due to his own personal 

 character, his skill as a hunter, or some other 

 almost accidental circumstance rather than to any 

 hereditary right. 



Warfare, though perhaps not uncommon in former 

 generations, is now really unknown, and disputes 

 between tribes do not occur. Custom is the only 

 ruler, and is the one unwritten law which is held 

 up to be obeyed. Should a man make himself 



