ESQIITMAUX, or ESKIMOS, is the name of a nation inhabiting the coasts of all the seas, bays, inlets, and islands of America n. of the 60° of n. let.; from the eastern coast of Greenland, in long. 20°, to the strait of Behring, in long. 167° west. On the Atlan tic, they are to be found along the entire coast of Labrador to the strait of Belleisle, and down the e. side of Hudson's bay nearly as far as James's bay; while on the Pacific they reach as far as the peninsula of Alaska. They are also to be met with on the Asiatic side of Behring's strait, and, though few in number, may be regarded as the most widely spread nation in the world, occupying, according to Mr. Gallatin, not less than 5,400m. of coast, without including the inlets of the sea. " The Eskimo," says Dr. Latham, "is the only family common to the old and new world—an important fact in itself, and one made more important still by the Eskimo localities being the only localities where the two continents come into proximity." Nothing, however, has as yet come out of a consideration of this fact in the way of tracing, with absolute certainty, a connection between the E. and any well-defined Asiatic race. The name itself, Esquima:ux or Eskimo, does not, help us in -any 4uclx attempt, from an Algonquin or Abenaki word, signifying "eaters of l'aw flesh." This is not the native nitrite, for they call them selves " Inuit," or "people;" the Scandinavians of the 10th c. called them " Skroellin- gar," or " wretches;' while the seamen of the Hudson's bay ships designate them as Seymos," or " Suckemos"—appellations, according to Richardson, " evidently derived from the vociferous cries of Sey-ino or Teymo with which the poor people greet the arrival of the ships." The E. are usually reckoned by ethnologists to belong to the Mongolian race, but Dupouceau and Gallatin find a strong resemblance between them and the red Indians of North America, which is the view also taken by Prichard—the last mentioned regarding them as a kind of link between the northern Asiatic and American family of nations. Latham, on the other hand, pronounces them to be Mon golian in physiognomy, with flat nose, projecting cheek-bones, eyes often oblique, and Skin more brown than red or copper colored; thus presenting a marked contrast to the North American Indians. Their language, however, is, he acknowledges, American in respect to its grammatical structure, being composed of long compound words, and regular, though remarkable, inflections. With respect to the complexion of the E., sir John Richardson is of a different opinion from any of these authors, describing it as nearly white, when relieved from the smoke and dirt with which it is usually incrusted. Many of the young women, he considers, even be called pretty, when this opera tion has been performed. " The young men, he says, " have little beard; but sonic of the old ones have a tolerable show of long gray hairs on the upper lip and chin, which the red Indians never have, as they eradicate all stray hairs. The Eskimo beard, how
ever, is in no instance so dense as a European one." In stature, the E. are usually represented as not being more than 5 ft. in height; but the authority just mentioned describes them as ranging from 5 ft. to 5 ft. 10 in., and even more. They are broad shouldered, and, when seated in their boats, look tall and muscular, but, when standing, appear to lose some of their height, from the shortness of their lower extremities. The E. live usually throughout their long lines of coast in small villages, containing about five or six families each. The men occupy themselves entirely in hunting, while the women perform the domestic drudgery, which consists principally in preparing the food, of which both sexes consume a large quantity. This is almost entirely of an ani mal nature, but not without variety, embracing the reindeer, geese and other birds, the seal, walrus, salmon-trout, and various other kinds of fish. They are expert hunt ers and fishers, and, aided by their dogs, make considerable havoc among the arctic ani mal tribes. Where whales are common, Aug. and Sept. are devoted to the pursuit of these animals, and great joy is manifested when they capture any of them, as from the blubber of these they get their supply of oil for lights in the long winter season. Of vegetables, they scarcely taste any except in the autumn. " Carbon is supplied to the system by the use of much, oil and fat in the diet, and draughts of warm blood from a newly-killed animal are considered as contributing greatly to preserve the hunter in health." The habits of the E. are filthy and revolting in the extreme. A great part of their food is consumed without any attempt at cooking it, and they drink the blood of newly-killed animals as the greatest delicacy that could be offered them. In the short summer, those who can afford it live in tents; but in the winter they all equally live in snow-huts, the stench of which, from the offal with which they are stored, and the filthy oil that gives them light, makes them insupportable to the European. The dress of both sexes is nearly the same, consisting of the skius'of animals, reindeer, birds, and even fish—whatever conduces most to warmth, without much regard to appearance; but in their winter abodes they usually wear nothing except trousers. Their religion consists principally in superstitious observances, but they believe, we are told, in two greater spirits, and many lesser ones. The Moravian mission in Greenland, commenced by the benevolent Hans Egede (q.v.), in 1721, has succeeded iu converting many of them to Christianity; and they are represented by the missionaries to be a mild and teachable people, easily led by kindness to distinguish between what is morally right and wrong. Where the missionaries, however, have not penetrated, our arctic voyagers generally speak of them as honest among themselves, but incorrigibly dishonest, and prone to lying and exaggeration with strangers.—See Dr. Rink's Tales and Traditions of the Eskimo.