BOAS.] DISTRIBUTION OF THE TRIBES. 445 



due to tlie difference in the nature of their territorial surroundings 

 and to the presence of the musk ox. which they frequently hunt. 

 In addition, the tribes of the continent do not hvmt the seal in the 

 winter, laying up instead their supply of meat and blubber in the 

 fall. The information in regard to two of these tribes is quite com- 

 plete, as they have been visited bj- explorers frequently and at all 

 seasons. The two tribes referred to are the Aivillirmiut, of the 

 northwestern part of Hudson Bay, and the Netchillirmiut of Boothia 

 Felix. Unfortunately the information in respect to the others, the 

 Kinipetu or Agutit, the Sinimiut, Ugjulirmiut, and Ukusiksalir- 

 miut, is less complete. 



The Aknllirmiut. — In order to describe the mode of life of the 

 Aivillirmiut I shall give an abstract of Dr. John Rae's observations in 

 184G-'J:7 and 1854-'55, of C. F. Hall's life with these natives from 18G4 

 to 1869, and of Lieut. F. Schwatka's residence among them from 1877 

 to 1879. A pretty correct idea of the migrations and favorite resorts 

 of this tribe at the different seasons may be obtained from the jour- 

 nals of these travelers. 



When Rae arrived in Repulse Bay in the latter part of July, 1810, 

 he met with twenty-six natives who were deer hunting among the 

 numerous lakes of Rae Isthmus (I, pp. 35, 40, 48). Another part of 

 the tribe had resorted to Akugdlit, where they hunted tlie musk ox 

 near Point Hargrave (I, p. 49). Committee Bay (Akugdlit) was filled 

 with a heavy pack about that time, and the natives hunted walrus 

 in their kayaks (I, p. 58). Wherever they killed a deer or musk ox 

 they made deposits of the meat and carefully piit w]) the wahus 

 blubber in sealskin bags for use during the winter. Wlien, about 

 the end of Sej^tember, the deer were migrating southward and new 

 ice was forming on the lakes, the natives settled in the center of that 

 part of the country which had been their hunting ground during 

 the summer, in order to be near their depots. For this reason they 

 were well scattered all over the country, some establishing their 

 tents on the lakes of the isthmus, others staying on the shore of Re- 

 pulse Bay, where large deposits of deer meat and blubber had been 

 made. During the winter most of the natives gathered in one set- 

 tlement east of Fort Hope (near Aivillik), whence they started to 

 bring in their deposits. About the 20th of February they scattered 

 all over the bay (I, p. 91), but it is doubtful whether they did this in 

 order tn br m^aiTv tlieii- (Irpnts or {n i;(, si'uling. In March the first 

 deer of thr sca-^Mii wi'ir MMMi ( I. ]i. '.i:!). Imt ii was not until April that 

 larger lu'nls passi-d Ri'imlsi' J!ay im tlirir migration northward (I, jx 

 99). At this time a small supply of trout was jjrocured from Chris- 

 tie Lake, but it was not sufficient for the supjaort of the natives 

 (I. p. 99). Caches of venison were made and frequently visited until 

 late in June (p. IGG). The sealing had begiin in the beginning of May 

 (p. 135), when the first animals were seen basking on the ice. But 



