414 THE CENTRAL ESKIMO. 



GEOGRAPHY OF NORTHEASTERN AMERICA. 



The Eskimo inhabit almost the whole extent of the coast of Arctic 

 America. A large part of this country is occupied by tlie Central 

 Eskimo, one of the great groups into which that people is divided. 

 They live in the northeastern part of the continent and on the east- 

 ern islands of the Arctic-American Archipelago. In Smith Sound 

 they inhabit the most northern countries visited by man and their 

 remains are even found at its northern outlet. The southern and 

 western boundaries of this district are the countries about Fort 

 Churchill, the middle part of Back River, and the coast west of Ade- 

 laide Peninsula. Along the whole extent of this line they are the 

 neighbors of Indian tribes, with whom they are generally on very bad 

 terms, a mutual distrust existing between the two races. 



The geography of the whole country is known only in outline, and 

 a great portion of it awaits its explorer. Following is a sketch of 

 what is known about it, so far as it is of importance to the ethnologist. 



The vast basin of Hudson Bay separates two large portions of the 

 American continent: Labrador and the region of the large Arctic 

 rivers. The southern shore of the bay is inhabited by Indian tribes 

 who interrupt the communication between the Eskimo of both re- 

 gions. Hudson Bay, however, has the character of a true mediter- 

 ranean sea, the northern parts of its opposite shores being connected 

 by a number of islands and peninsulas. The low and narrow Rae 

 Isthmus, which presents an easy passage to the Arctic Ocean, unites 

 Melville Peninsula to the main body of the continent. From this 

 peninsula Baffin Land stretches out toward the north of Labrador, 

 with only two narrow channels intervening: Fury and Hecla Strait 

 and Hudson Strait. Another chain of islands, formed by the parts 

 of Southampton Island and Mansfield Island, stretches from Repulse 

 Bay to the northwest point of Labrador, but the distances between 

 the islands and the roughness of the sea prevent communication. 



On the western part of the continent the great bays, Chesterfield 

 Inlet and Wager River, are of importance, as they allow the Eskimo, 

 though they are a coast people, to penetrate into the interior of the 

 continent. A narrow isthmus separates the head of the bays from 

 the lakes of Back River. At Coronation Bay the latter approaches 

 the Arctic Ocean very closely, and it is probable that the coast west 

 of Adelaide Peninsula, which is skirted by innumerable islands, is 

 indented by deep inlets extending towards the lakes of Back River. 

 Thus communication between the Arctic Ocean and Hudson Bay is 

 facilitated by this large river, which yields an abundant supply of 

 fish. From Wager River an isthmus leads to its estuary. 



Boothia Felix, the most northern peninsula of the continent, is 

 united to it by two narrow isthmuses, the former extending from 

 ' A glossary of Eskimo geographic terms will be found on p. 662 



