9 



correlating information from various sources in relation to tlieir habits and 

 customs. 



The Orarians are distinguished, 1, l»y their language, of which the dia- 

 lects in constniction and etymology bear a strong resemblance to one 

 another throughout the group, and differ in their homogeneousness (as well 

 as the foregoing characters) as strongly from the Indian dialects adjacent 

 to them; 2, by their distribution, always confined to the sea-coasts or 

 islands, sometimes entering the mouths of large rivers, as the Yukon, but 

 only ascending them for a short distance, and as a rule avoiding the 

 wooded country ; 3, by their habits, more maritime and adventurous than 

 the Indians, following, hunting, and killing not only the small seal but 

 also the sea-lion and walrus. Even the great Arctic bowhead whale (and 

 anciently the spei-m whale) falls a victim to their jiersevering efforts; and 

 the patent harj^oon, almost universally used by American whalers in lieu 

 of the old-fashioned article, is a copy, in steel, of the bone and slate 

 weapon which the Innuit have used for centuries. Lastly, they are dis- 

 tinguished by their physical characteristics, a light fresh yellow complexion, 

 fine color, broad build, scaphocephalic head, great cranial ca]3acity, and 

 obliquity of the arch of the zygoma. The patterns of their implements and 

 weapons and their myths are similar in a general way throughout the 

 group and equally different from the Indian types. 



The Orarians are di\-ided into two well-marked groups, namely, the 

 Innuit, comprising all the so-called Eskimo and Tuskis and the Aleuts. 

 Taking the tribes in their geograpliical sequence, we may commence Avitli 



The Major Group, or 



INNUIT. 



S.\ II. — lisqiiimaiir. 



Eslimo, &c., of authors. 



Eskima'nUik of the Abeuaki Iiuliaus. 



Vskee'mi of the Northern Tiuueh. 



Hus'kii, Hudsou Buy jargon — " Broken Shivc". 



In'nuit, the name applied hy these people to themselves. 



containing- the following triljes : 



