176 THE HUDSON BAY ESKIMO. 



and it is equally certain that their language is constantly undergoing 

 modifications to suit the purposes of the missionary and trader, who, 

 not being able to pronounce the difficult guttural speech of these people, 

 require them to conform to their own pronunciation. The region inhab- 

 ited by the Inmiit is strictly littoral. Their distribution falls properly 

 into three subdivisions, due to the three subtribal distinctions which 

 they maintain among themselves. The first sub division embraces all 

 the Innuit dwelling on the Labrador coast proper and along the south 

 side of Hudson strait to the mouth of Leaf river, which flows into 

 Ungava bay. 



These people apply the term Su hi' ni myut to themselves and are thus 

 known by the other subdivisions. This term is derived from Su hi' 

 nuk, the sun, and the latter part of the word, meaning people (literally 

 " those that dwell at or in ") ; hence, people of the sun, sunny side, be- 

 cause the sun shines on them first. At the present time these people 

 are confined to the seashore and the adjacent islands, to which they 

 repair for seals and other food. South of Hamilton inlet I could learn 

 of but one of these people. 



The Innuit of pure blood do not begin to appear until the missionary 

 station of Hoi>edale is reached. Here a number of families dwell, 

 although mostly at the instigation of the missionaries. Between this 

 station and Hebron are several other Moravian missionary stations, at 

 each of which dwell a greater or less numV)er of pure Innuit. North 

 of Hebron to Cape Chidley there are but few families, some seven in 

 all, embracing a population of less than 40 souls. On the west side of 

 Cape Chidley, as far as the mouth of George's river, only about eight 

 families live. These with the George's river Innuit comprise less than 

 50 individuals. There is a stretch of coast bordering ITngava bay, 

 from George's river to the Koksoak river, which is uninhabited. 



The Koksoak river people include only four or five families and num- 

 ber less than 30 souls. The next people are those dwelling at the 

 mouth of Leaf river, but they are more properly to be considered under 

 the next subdivision. 



Tbe exact number of the Suhinimyut could not be definitely deter- 

 mined. They are subdivided into a number of small communities, 

 each bearing a name compounded of the Tiame of their home and 

 myut, " the people of." 



The inhabitants of Cape Chidley are known as Ki lln'ig myut, from 

 the word ki lin'ik, wounded, cut, incised, lacerated; bencc, serrated, on 

 account of the character of the rough rocks aud mountains. 



The natives of George's river are known as Kan'gukflua'luksoag- 

 myut; those of the Koksoak river are known as Koksoagmynt. 



The second siibdivision includes the Innuit dwelling on the area 

 lying between the mouth of Leaf river, thence northward, and along 

 the south side of Hudson strait. Their western aud southern limit 

 extends to about latitude 60°. 



