248 THE LABRADOR ESKIMOS AND THEIR FORMER RANGE. 



the nations, were gradually impelled northward by the 

 tide of emigration, till they reached the extreme corner 

 of Kamtschatka, and finding themselves disturbed even 

 in these remote seats, they crossed the strait to the 

 neighboring continent of America. . . . Our savages 

 then retired before their pursuers across the narrow 

 strait, either by a direct navigation or by a more gradual 

 passage from island to island, to America, where they 

 could spread themselves without opposition through the 

 unoccupied wastes roiind the southeast part of Hudson's 

 Bay, or through Canada up to the northern ocean. And 

 here they were first met with in the eleventh century by 

 the discoverers of Wineland. But when they were 

 compelled to evacuate these possessions likewise, by the 

 numerous tribes of Indians superior to themselves in 

 strength and valor, who thronged to the north out of 

 Florida, they receded nearer to the pole, as far as the 6oth 

 degree. Here Ellis in his voyage to Hudson's Bay found 

 the Esquimaux,* resembling the Greenlanders in every 

 particular of dress, figure, boats, weapons, houses, man- 

 ners, and customs. . . . The clerk of the Califor- 

 nia f says that these Esquimaux are grievously harassed 

 by the Indians inhabiting the south and west shores of 

 Hudson's Bay, who are in all respects a distinct race. 

 An unsuccessful hunting or fishing expedition is a suffi- 

 cient pretext for their oppressors to fall upon them and 

 take them prisoners or murder them. These acts of 

 violence have induced the fugitives to retreat so far to 



* Charlevois derives this name from the Indian word Esklmantsik, which in 

 the language of the Abenaquis signifies to eat raw; and it is certain that they 

 eat raw fish. (They also eat seals and birds raw.) 



f Account of a voyage for the discovery of a northwest passage, vol. ii. 

 P- 43- 



