392 



CHAPTER XII. 



MODERN SAVAGES Continued. 



Esquimaux. 



rE Esquimaux, and the Esquimaux alone among savage 

 races, occupy both the Old and the New World. 

 They inhabit the shores of the Arctic Ocean from Siberia 

 to Greenland ; and throughout this great extent of country 

 the language, appearance, occupations, weapons, and habits 

 of the natives are very similar, and it must be added that 

 the latter are most ingenious. The language of the Innuit 

 or Esquimaux is akin to that of the North American Indians 

 in structure, while their appearance has a decided likeness, 

 particularly about the eyes, to the Chinese and Tartars. 



Their dwellings are of two kinds. The summer they pass 

 in tents or wigwams, with the entrance to the south or 

 south-east. In those observed by Captain Parry, the tent- 

 poles were, in the absence of wood, formed of stags' horns, 

 or bones lashed together. The lower borders of the skins 

 were held down by large stones. These were sometimes built 

 up into regular circles, eight or nine feet in diameter and 

 four or five feet high.* These circles were at first supposed 

 to be the remains of winter-houses, but it was subsequently 

 ascertained that they were exclusively used for extending the 

 skins of the summer- tents. Near these " hut circles " long 

 rows of standing stones were several times observed, f The 

 winter-houses, in the southern districts are constructed of 



* Parry's Voyage, 1821-3, pp. 17, 51. t I.e. pp. 62, 285, 363. 



