Appendix 249 



meat had therefore become the predommant article of food, and the destruction 

 of the caribou was proceeding so rapidly that within ten years, be believed, 

 hardly one would be left in the vicinity of Coronation gulf. The old copper 

 culture had given place to one of iron — even the copper ice-pick had disappeared 

 — and the old style of dress was being abandoned in favour of western models. 

 Infanticide had become exceedingly rare, partly through police and missionary 

 influence, partly, Captain Bernard thought, because the Eskimos were shamed 

 out of the practice by the Indians. He seemed to notice an increase, therefore, 

 in the number of little children. On the other hand tuberculosis had already 

 made its appearance among the Copper Eskimos. Clearly, for better or for 

 worse, the new era has dawned, and only the future can decide whether the 

 natives will survive or go under. 



