27 



locate their villages where there is "free" ice, i.e., where the ice 

 is kept moving by ocean currents during the winter, and there 

 are open spots and blow-holes for seal and walrus. There is 

 only a month or so in mid-winter when the ice is stationary. 

 In the spring, when it breaks up and is carried north, there appears 

 to be an acceleration of the current, and in the autumn its coming 

 is usually preceded by a high tide. Cases are recorded in the 

 extreme north where the ice has remained fixed for two seasons, 

 but these are rare. 



The generic word for ice is ci'kif (Baffin island. North 

 Alaska sikw ; Yukon tci'kuy. When the ice begins to form in the 

 inlets and bays, it is known as "young ice," ci'kwaq. When it 

 is strong enough to travel on, it is called ci'kwu-liaq. The winter 

 "pack" ice, broken and shifting, is termed tu"vaq. The heavier 

 glacial ice, which comes down from the Arctic, is known as 

 kir'vat. The "shore" ice, or ice which adheres to the land, and 

 is often seen in spring after the ocean is clear of pack ice, is called 

 qai'naq. The "sea edge," where the ice meets the open water, 

 which is a favourite hunting ground at certain seasons, is named 

 se'n-n-a', literally "edge." 



The provenience of the ice which sweeps down the Labrador 

 coast can usually be determined by its appearance. The ice 

 which comes out of Ungava bay is found in long flat "pans"; 

 the Arctic ice which comes down through Fox channel and 

 Hudson strait is heavy and glacial. It appears that here, as in 

 Alaska, while ice forms in the bays, the coast is blocked, rather 

 than frozen over, by the northern ice-drift. Even in summer 

 there is a constant procession of stately icebergs {pixaliryaq) 

 down the coast. 



SNOW. 



Snow enters nearly as much into the Eskimo economy as 

 ice, and also has many names according to its condition and 

 place. 



The general word for snow, lying on the ground, is a-' pat 

 {a"pu'n in Alaska). Falling snow is known as qo-'n'nik (as in 

 qonikpaq, it falls or is snowing). Snow blocks for building snow- 



■ Dr. Boas informs me that the Eskimo 5 is never pure, which may account for the apparent 

 variation in dialect. 



