July 19, 1912] 



SCIENCE 



83 



ter. Preeminently throughout, the manner is 

 one of friendliness to the student; and, as one 

 reads, one senses constantly the author's men- 

 tal attitude of regret that our accepted ter- 

 minology has been confusing or that the sub- 

 ject can not be made even plainer than a pike- 

 staff. In the preface we read, "... most 

 earnest efforts have been directed to show the 

 inherent simplicity of some ideas . . ."; and 

 it may truly be said that these efforts have 

 been, in the main, remarkably successful. 



The publishers have done their work well, 

 and the book is excellently produced and un- 

 usually free from errata. There can be no 

 doubt that this is the best text-book in its 

 range and field that has yet appeared. 



Alan W. 0. Menzies 



In Northern Labrador. By "William Brooks 



Cabot. E. G. Badger. Illustrated. $2.50. 

 Among the Eskimos of Labrador. By S. K. 



HuTTON. J. B. Lippincott Co. Illustrated 



$3.50. 



These are two notable books about a little- 

 known country, which give valuable and in- 

 teresting information as to the life conditions 

 and the racial characteristics of its aborig- 

 inal peoples. The interesting volume by the 

 American regarding the Indians of the central 

 inland district is well balanced and supple- 

 mented by the English doctor's detailed ac- 

 counts of the Eskimos of the northern coasts. 



Most readers will find specially attractive 

 the well-written, beautifully illustrated volume 

 by Mr. Cabot, who prefaces his experiences by 

 a brief, admirable summary of previous ex- 

 plorations. While he has many times visited 

 Labrador the book confines itself to accounts 

 of five visits, wherein he acquired some facil- 

 ity in Indian speech, and became familiar 

 with the social, domestic, travel and hunting 

 methods of both the Eskimo and Indians. 



He outlines Grenfell's great work in a sen- 

 tence : " He represents the modern humanities 

 on a coast where before they were peculiarly 

 lacking." "With artistic appreciation he 

 writes : " The bergs are gigantic crystalline 

 masses, pure elemental separations, the like of 

 which neither land nor sea has to show in any 



other form. In some lingers the greater de- 

 sign, foundation, plinth and shaft. The gods 

 of the North had their temples and these are 

 their fragments." Vegetation and landscape, 

 birds and beasts, fish and mankind aU appeal 

 to his observing mind. 



The illustrations from photographs are ex- 

 cellent, and well chosen, adequately represent- 

 ing the land and' the people. 



The data obtained on Lake Mistinipi, an 

 aflGiuent of George Eiver, as to the Naskapi 

 Indians are valuable. Tersely they are de- 

 scribed as untamed aborigines, of the stone 

 age, of unmodified raciality, thin-legged, wiry, 

 with horse-tail hair. The typical photographs 

 and ethnographic details are of special interest. . 



The appendix on mice will be read by scien- 

 tists with pleasure. His remarks, on the inti- 

 mate interrelations between the humbler 

 forms of life and seasons of want and plenty 

 for the higher forms, will be noted with in- 

 terest. The volume is a welcome addition to 

 our knowledge of this inhospitable land. 



Dr. Hutton's hospital service of five years 

 among the eskimos of extreme northern Lab- 

 rador has enabled him to produce quite a re- 

 markable book. "With these aborigines he has 

 " come in closest contact in their homes, in 

 their work, in their hunting and their jour- 

 neys, in health and in sickness." More than 

 thirty reproductions of photographs, with 

 notes, afford clear ideas of the features, dress, 

 and life conditions of these Children of the lee. 

 There are interesting descriptions of wed- 

 dings, seal-hunting, walrus-killing, fur-trap- 

 ping, reindeer-hunting, tent and igloo life, 

 child training, etc. An adventurous touch is 

 given in a sledge journey wherein the author 

 was lost on a mountain-crossing, in a violent 

 snow storm. In short the volume is filled with 

 information as to the present condition of the 

 eskimos of Labrador that will be most accept- 

 able not only to the general reader, but to 

 ethnologists. Specially noteworthy is the ac- 

 count of the semi-heathen natives of Killi- 

 nek, the most northerly point of Labrador, 

 with its decrepit old chief, Tuglavi. 



The Killineks " are more weather-beaten 

 than those farther south, as they live mainly 



