464 THE CENTRAL ESKIMO. 



with one another. It is remarkable that the number of natives born 

 in Nugumiut is much larger on the western shore than on the eastern. 

 They seem to have joined their nearest neighbors, the soiithern 

 Talirpingmiut, perhaps for the reason that in their district the geo- 

 graphic character of the land is most similar to that of Frobisher 

 Bay. The number of Nugumiut settled among the inhabitants of 

 Nettilling Fjord and among the Kingnaitmiut is far less. Among 

 the Saumingmiut there is no one who has traveled beyond Nauja- 

 teling, and in Padli or farther north there are very few individuals 

 who have been south of Cumberland Sound. It is only by careful 

 consideration of the birthiilace of the different individuals who are 

 members of the settlements of Cumberland Sound that it is possible 

 at the present time to detect the former division of the Oqomiut into 

 subtribes. The inhabitants of the eastern shore are related to the 

 Padlimiut and the Akudnirmiut; those of the western shore, to the 

 Nugumiut. In 1840 a brisk intercourse existed between Padli and 

 the sound (Eenoolooapik, p. 81), and probably sledges crossed the 

 peninsula every winter. Though the intercourse is not so intimate 

 to-day as it is between the settlements of the sound, it is yet active. 

 The Kingnaitmiut form the medium of the regular intercourse be- 

 tween Saumia and Padli, while families removing to Akudnirn travel 

 along the shore of Davis Strait. Among the subtribes of the Oqo- 

 miut the Saumingmiut are most nearly related to the Padlimiut and 

 extend their migrations farthest to the north. 



The Akudnirmiut, who are closely connected with the Padlimiut, 

 are considered strangers by the Oqomiut. The intercourse between 

 the Akudnirmiut and the Aggomiut is not very frequent, and seems 

 to be maintained as irregularly as that between the Nugumiut and 

 the Oqomiut. 



The inhabitants of the northern sounds and of Fury and Hecla 

 Strait frequently visit one another. Parry rhentions a number of 

 journeys in each direction (II, p. 4.30). Hall found natives of Tunu- 

 nirn and Tununirusirn settled in Iglulik (II, p. 356). I myself found 

 two Iglulirmiut among the Akudnirmiut. The intercourse seems to 

 have been always very active, and consequently those tribes may be 

 considered as one group. 



The inhabitants of North Devon belong to the Tununirusirmiut, a 

 few families of this tribe sometimes settling o-n the island and after 

 a few years' absence returning to their former home. 



From Parry's, Hall's, and Schwatka's reports it appears that the 

 Aivillirmiut are closely related to the Iglulirmiut, while the Eskimo 

 of Che.sterfield Inlet, the A^utit or Kini])etu. form a separate group. 



It is remarkable tli; it lii'twrcn tin- trilifs of Hudson Bay and the 

 more western ones a di'cp disti-iist exists, wliich prevents a frequent 

 and unlimited intercourse. The Sinimiut and Netchillirmiut are 



