SUMMER AND WINTER LIFE OF THE ESKIMO. 275 



from year to year, and by this means they advance far- 

 ther and farther towards the north. Besides this normal 

 diminution of the Eskimo population, epidemics appear 

 which are mainly introduced through the traffic with the 

 fishing-vessels, and as the result an extraordinarily great 

 percentage die ; for example, when the measles broke 

 out about three years ago [1879 ?] about twenty per cent 

 died. 



" The yearly life of the Eskimos is as follows : During 

 the summer, and especially in the hunting season, that is, 

 from May to December, the Eskimos with their families 

 are scattered along the shore at their different fishing- 

 places. After the men return in May from the reindeer 

 hunting, they take their whole families with them to the 

 islands lying near the seashore, to hunt seals. On their 

 return to the northern seas the seals follow the outside 

 edges of the drift ice, and the hunters are often obliged 

 to drive far out in their dog-sledges to reach the seals' 

 course. Hence they wait with their wives and children 

 upon the outer islands until the coast ice has left the 

 bays and straits between the islands. This takes place 

 about the last of June. Then they hasten back in their 

 kayaks to the stations where they have passed the winter 

 months, in order to prepare their large sail-boats, which 

 are generally purchased of the Newfoundland fishermen.* 

 With these they fetch their families, which have in the 

 meanwhile remained at the spring fishing-grounds, and 

 go trout-fishing in the inlets on the river courses. Then 



* In 1864 the Eskimos had no sail-boats except one large schooner they built 

 themselves, at Hopedale, and at that date there was little if any communication 

 with the Newfoundland fishermen. 



