268 



SYSTEMS OF CONSANGUINITY AND AFFINITY 



the carnivorous animals. The annexed comparative vocabularies, together with 

 the terms of relationship in the Table (Table II), will illustrate the present relations 

 of the several Eskimo dialects to each other. 1 



Their ethnic relations are still undetermined, unless the conclusion of Dr. Morton, 

 which was based chiefly upon cranial characteristics, is regarded as established. 

 In his classification the Eskimo are detached from the American Indian connec- 

 tion and transferred to the Mongolian race. They are placed with other arctic 

 nations in his "Polar Family." 2 This family, which consists of all the polar nations 

 in Europe, Asia, America, and the island of Greenland, 3 is constituted in violation 

 of the linguistic affinities of these nations, and therefore it has not been recognized 

 as a family by philologists. Neither has the evidence adduced by him, in favor of 

 the separation of the Eskimo from the remainder of the American aborigines, been 



1 COMPARATIVE VOCABULARY. 



The Greenland Eskimo were probably emigrants from Labrador. TJpon this question Cranz observes : 

 "There can be no hesitation in affirming that Greenland was peopled from Labrador, not Labrador 

 from Greenland." Hist, of Greenland, I, 349. Dr. Prichard expressed the same opinion, as follows: 

 "As the Skraellings or Esquimaux of Greenland had not reached that country at the time when the 

 Northmen had settled their early colonies in it, it may be conjectured that the progress of the race 

 was from the west, since they had not arrived at the more distant point towards Europe till within 

 the age of history." Nat. Hist, of Man, p. 221. 



Crania Americana, Philadelphia ed., 1839, folio, p. 5. ' Ib. p. 50. 



