ESKIMOS 135 



VII. Northwest coast of Hudson bay. Population 700 to 750. 



(a) Padlimiut (Churchill to Ranken inlet). 



(b) Kenipitumiut (Chesterfield inlet) 140. 



(c) Shaunuktungmiut (Doubaunt river). 



(d) Aivillingmiut (Fullerton to Repulse bay) 138. 



(e) Iglulingmiut (Fox channel) 60. 



(f) Xechillingmiut (westward from Repulse bay to Back 

 river) 450. 



From the above table, it will be seen that the total Eskimo 

 population of the eastern half of Arctic America ranges between 

 3,400 and 3,700 individuals. These people are scattered along 

 the coasts of the mainland and northern islands, while a few 

 live continuously inland to the west of Hudson bay. The pre- 

 sent northern limit of permanent settlement of the Eskimos, in 

 eastern Canada, is Lancaster sound and its western extensions, 

 in about 74 !N\ latitude. Many traces of their habitations have 

 been found on the islands north of Lancaster sound, and far 

 north along the west side of Ellesmere island, but these only 

 represent the temporary quarters of stragglers from the south, 

 who return after a short so j urn in the north. 



On the west side of Hudson bay the natives extend southward 

 to the neighbourhood of Churchill, the most southern tribe being 

 the Padlimiut. who inhabit the country northward from 

 Churchill to- Ranken inlet, and inland in a northwest direction 

 along the edge of the forest-line to about the latitude of Ranken 

 inlet. Their northern neighbours are the Kenipitumiut, who 

 occupy the territory about Chesterfield inlet and along the rivers 

 tributary to that great bay. The Kenipitumiut are not very 

 numerous, and, according to Captain George Comer, who has 

 made a very careful census of the natives of the west part of 

 Hudson bay, they only number 140 persons. The Aivillingmiut 

 are next northward, and are more confined to the coast than the 

 southern natives ; they consequently depend largely on the sea 

 animals for food and clothing, the southern people living mostly 



