DISTRIBUTION OF THE TRIBES. 419 



DISTRIBUTION OF THE TRIBES. 

 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 



The mode of life of all the Eskimo tribes of Northeastern America 

 is very uniform ; therefore it is desirable to make a few general ob- 

 servations on the subject before entering into a detailed descrii^tiou 

 of each tribe. All depends upon the distribution of food at the dif- 

 ferent seasons. The migrations or the accessibility of the game com- 

 pel the natives to move their habitations from time to time, and 

 hence the distribution of the villages depends, to a great extent, uijon 

 that of the animals which supply them with food. 



As the inhospitable country does not produce vegetation to an 

 extent sufficient to sustain life in its human inhabitants, they are 

 forced to depend entirely upon animal food. In Arctic America the 

 abuiidance of seals found in all parts of the sea enables man to with- 

 stand the inclemency of the climate and the sterility of the soil. 

 The skins of seals furnish the material for summer garments and for 

 the tent ; their flesh is almost the only food, and their blubber the 

 indispciisalilc fuel during the long dark winter. Scarcely less ini- 

 piirtaiit is till' deer, of whose heavy skin the winter garments are 

 niado, and these enable the Eskimo to brave the storms and the cold 

 of winter. 



That the mode of life of the Eskimo depends wholly on the dis- 

 tribution (if these animals will tlicii'fon' be a|i|iarcnt. for, as already 

 obs.i'vrd. tla'v regulate their (Iwcllin- places in accurdance with the 

 miyL-atidiis nf the latter from plarc to place in search of food. 



When the constraint of winter is broken the natives leave their old 

 habitations. The warm rays of the sun melt the roofs of their snow 

 houses, the strong vaults which afforded shelter and conifortalde 

 warmth during the long cold winter begin to break down, and new 

 houses must be built. They therefore exchange the solid snow Ikjusos 

 for light tents, which are very small and poor, until a sufficient num- 

 ber of sealskins for better structures is secured. 



As at this time seals are found in abundance everywhere, basking 

 in the warm sunshine and enjoying the beginning of the spring, a 

 great supply is easily secured. As the season advances food becomes 

 more plentiful, and with the breaking tip of the fivers and ponds 

 the salmon leave the latter and descend to the sea. About this time 

 the Eskimo establish their settlements at the head of the fjords, 

 where salmon are easily caught in the shallow rivers. In July the 

 snow, which has covered the land for nine months, has melted away 

 and the natives undertake hunting trips inland, in order to obtain 

 the precious skins of the reindeer and the meat of the fawns, which 

 is always highly prized. With the breaking up of the ice the variety 



