HHDLICKA] ORIGIN AND ANTIQUITY OF THE ESKIMO 329 



would seem to be a relatively late (within the present millennium) 

 coining of a physically already well differentiated small group, from 

 either the south or the east, with a relatively short settlement at the 

 Barrow site, some local multiplication in numbers, and then extinc- 

 tion partly through disease, partly perhaps through absorption into 

 a stronger and newer contingent derived from the western people. 



ORIGIN AND ANTIQUITY OF THE ESKIMO 



All anthropological research on the Eskimo has naturally one ulti- 

 mate object, which is the clearing up of the problems of the origin 

 and antiquity of this highly interesting human strain; and it may 

 well be asked what further light on these problems has been shed 

 by the studies here dealt with. To show this with a proper perspec- 

 tive it will be requisite to briefly review the previous ideas on these 

 problems. 



Origin of the Name " Eskimo " 



According to Charlevoix (Nouv. France, III, 178), the term 

 " Eskimo " is a corruption of the Abenaki Indian Esquimantsic or 

 the Ojibway Ashkinieg, both terms meaning " those who eat raw 

 flesh.'' In the words of Captain Hooper, 41 " Neither the origin nor 

 meaning of the name ' Esquimaux,' or Eskimo, as it is now spelled, 

 is known. According to Doctor Rink, the name ' Esquimaux ' was 

 first given to the inhabitants of Southern Labrador as a term of deri- 

 sion by the inhabitants of Northern Labrador, and means raw-fish 

 eater. Dall says the appellation ' Eskimo ' is derived from a word 

 indicating a sorcerer or shaman in the language of the northern 

 tribes." 



For Brinton, 42 as for Charlevoix, the term "Eskimo" is derived 

 from the Algonkin " Eskimantick," " eaters of raw flesh." Accord- 

 ing to Chamberlain, 43 Sir John Richardson (Arctic Searching Exp.. 

 p. 203) attempts to derive it from the French words ceux qui miaux 

 (miaulent), referring to their clamorous outcries on the approach 

 of a ship. Petitot (Chambers Encyc, Ed. 1880, IV, p. 165, article 

 Esquimaux) says that at the present day the Crees, of Lake Atha- 

 basca, call them Wis-Kimowok (from Wiyas flesh, aski raw, and 

 mowew to eat), and also Ayiskimiwok (i. e., those who act in secret). 

 In Labrador the English sometimes call the Eskimo " Huskies" (loc. 

 cit, p. ix. 7. Chambers Encyc. article Esquimaux. See Hind. Trav. 

 in Int. of Labr., loc. cit.. and Petitot loc. cit., p. ix.) and Suckemos 



•u Hooper, C. L., Cruise of the U. S. revenue steamer Coricin, 1881. Washington, 

 1884, p. 99. 



'"- Rrinton, D. C, Myths of the New World. 18G8. p. 23. New York. 



"Chamberlain, A. F., The Eskimo race and language, l'roc. Canadian Inst., 3d ser., 

 vol. VI, pp. 2G7-2GS. Toronto, 1889. 



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