The Eskimo Inhabitants. 231 



From the western coast of the continent they probably migrated 

 eastward, finding convenient homes along the lake and river systems 

 north of the 55th parallel of latitude, and on the shores of Hudson's 

 Bay and Strait, and finally in Greenland. They are supposed to 

 have crossed Smith's Sound near Cape Union. They are now in 

 every part of Greenland, and on both shores of Davis's Strait and 

 Baffin's Bay, and everywhere on the coasts of Smith's Sound. 



They remain for the most part pretty close to the shores. Even 

 on hunting expeditions they follow closely to some coast. On the 

 eastern side of the continent they extend southward to the 50th 

 parallel of latitude, while on the western side they are seldom found 

 south of the 60th, on the eastern shore of Behring's Strait. On the 

 shores of Hudson's Bay 55° north latitude is their southern limit. 



Throughout this vast domain no other tribes intervene, except 

 in two places on the western shore, where Kennayan and Uglange 

 Indians come down to the sea for purposes of fishing. Rink divides 

 them into the following groups : — 



1. The East Greenland Eskimos, few in number, every year 

 advancing further south. 



2. The West Greenland Eskimo, civilized, living under Danish 

 rule, and extending from Cape Farewell to 74° north latitude. 



3. The Arctic Eskimos, living in the neighbourhood of Smith's, 

 Whale, Murchison's and Wolstenholme Sounds, not, within the mem- 

 ory of man, having any intercourse with those residing south of them, 

 They are very isolated, having greatly diminished in numbers of late 

 years. These Eskimos did not, until very recently, possess the 

 kayak — skin-covered canoe — the uomiak, or open skin boat, or the 

 bow and arrow. They are bold hunters, pagans, and are thoroughly 

 typical Eskimos. There are at present about three hundred of 

 these people, and one authority says that they have begun to increase 

 in numbers again. 



4. The Labrador Eskimos, mostly civilized. 



5. The Eskimos of the Interior, occupying the coasts on Hudson's 

 Bay, Hudson Strait, and westward to Barter Island beyond Mac- 

 kenzie River, inhabiting a stretch of country two thousand miles 

 long and eight hundred miles wide. 



