Introduction 11 



ledge of English and had spoken Eskimo from his earliest years. Although 

 barely sixteen years of age he was strong and hardy, an excellent traveller and 

 a skilful and fearless hunter. Probably no better interpreter could have been 

 found anywhere along the Arctic coast. 



Most of my researches were carried out in the settlements of the Eskimos, 

 for it was neither possible nor expedient to keep the natives around our station. 

 Our_ party of six white men had to live in one small room, and whenever the 

 Eskirnos were introduced the house was so crowded that the staff had to retire 

 to their bunks. That there was never the shghtest friction, in spite of the incon- 

 veniences and discomforts to which they were subjected, was due entirely to 

 their staunch comradeship and friendly co-operation. They often put them- 

 selves to considerable trouble in order to obtain information for me, and, 

 without their assistance, the present volume would have been far more im- 

 perfect and incomplete. Their help was not confined to the field, for since our 

 return they have generously placed their photographs at my disposal for the 

 illustration of my reports. I take this opportunity of thanking Dr. Anderson 

 and my colleagues for all their assistance. 



I am indebted also to the Rev. H. Girling for many friendly criticisms, and 

 for additional information that he has acquired since we left the Arctic. Mr. 

 Girhng has spent four years among the Copper Eskimos, from 1915-19, and during 

 that period he has accomplished a great deal of valuable linguistic work. His 

 long residence in the country, and his special gift for acquiring languages, have 

 made him the foremost authority on many matters pertaining to the Copper 

 Eskimos.^ 



The maps and illustrations for the present volume, apart from the photo- 

 graphs, were prepared by 0. E. Prud'homme, artist of_ the Geological 

 Survey. 



In this, the first of the ethnological reports, and the only one that is likely 

 to interest the general public, the simplest spelling possible has been adopted for 

 all Eskimo words, in order to make the book more readable. Most, if not all, 

 of these words will be found in one of the later volumes that it is hoped to 

 publish, where a more accurate phonetic system will be employed. These later 

 volumes will deal with the more technical phases of Copper Eskimo ethnology, 

 the physical appearance of the natives, their clothing and implements, their 

 language, mythology and songs. The expedition brought back a large collection 

 of phonographic records, photographs, and ethnological specimens, many of 

 which will be utilized in illustrating the different memoirs. 



The main sources of information for all that relates to the ethnology of the 

 Copper Eskimos are the wprks of Mr. V. Stefansson, the commander of the 

 Canadian Arctic Expedition. Mr. Stefansson obtained an astonishing amount 

 of very valuable information in a comparatively short space of time, and while 

 it was inevitable that a certain number of errors should have crept into his 

 accounts, yet his works will always stand as the basis on which future investiga- 

 tors will have to build. His publications, together with the other works that 

 have been consulted, are given in the bibliography; most of these works are 

 quoted in abbreviated form in the course of the report. 



'The Rev. H. Girling died of pneumonia at Ottawa on Feb. 21, 1920, while he was south on furlough. 

 He was a man of considerable culture and attainments, with large views and larger sympathies. In all 

 practical matters he was exceedingly capable and energetic, while his strong winning personality gained 

 him a great influence over all the natives among whom he worked. He was planning to carry out some 

 ethnological work for the Geological Survey on his return to the Arctic, but his sudden death when only 

 3 years^of age put an untimely end to his career. 



