New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-12-29
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
n,,,cpor,,s NATIVE RACES.

rra erst ;nstallment Of Mr.. Bancrofts Important
-. ~ +ha Anthology of the North American
tvsro,,.. which ia presented in this volume amply
snI6ils the promise With which its publication was
ORIGINALLY announced 1t is production OF almost
incredible labor of excellent arrangement ana al
xnrsble execution. everywhere betrayine tine union
Of ouiet enthusiasm and sound Judgment which nave
been exercised In its preparation. The commence
ment of 30 vast an enterprise as that contemplated
by the author could not have been effected without
tbe Ingenious system by which his materials nave
been utilized to the utmost possible extent ana inc
ee0peration Of many hands been brought TO q WORK
Of too great magnitude for the resources OF any
single individual Mr.. Bancroft's plan embraces
series of volumes on the Western half OF North
America comprising the immense territory from
Alaska to Darien, and the whole Of Mexico and
Central America This vast domain extends almost
from the North Pole to the equator. and embraces
nearly onetenth of the earths surface. Its peculiar
features are comparatively unknown. In order to
present complete calculation Of so comprehensive
a subject, no ordinary degree Of preparation was
requisite. The books and manuscripts necessary for
the task existed in no library in the world. For
nearly twenty years Mr.. Bancroft has been engaged
in the collection of materials for the accomplish
ment of his purpose. After securing everything
within his reach in this country he made successive
visits to Europe, spending about two years IN re-
searches in England and In the principal cities OF
the Continent. Having exhausted every aVaiiaDie
source he continued Oh the watch for new opportu-
mites BY rare piece of good fortune he obtained
about three thousand additional Volumes from the
Imperial Library of Mexico, which had been col
lecting for period of forty years, and was thrown
mon the market after the fall of Macmillan.
In 1869, he had accumulated not less than 1G,OOO
books. manuscripts, aud pamphlets besides numer-
GUS maps and files Of newspapers of the Pacihc Coast
With this equipment, he decided to commence
operations The first thing was to reduce the library
TO working order by making complete index OF Its
contents. large corps of assistants was then
organized to select and arrange the materials, ana
place them in q suitable condition for the final
elaboration of the author, who is responsible not
only for the method but for the style and literary
execution of the work.
The present volume, which is The frs; Of q series
consisting of five volumes, is devoted to the general
characteristics of the Wild Tribes of tho Pacific;
the second will treat of the Civilized Tribes; while
the three remaining volumes will lie occupied with
the mythology, languages, antiquities, and migra-
tions of those mysterious people prior to the
cOming of the Europeans.
Among the Northern tribes, the Cst place ia given
10 the Esquimaux or Us the namo 10 written by tho
author in accordance with recent usage, the Is
kimos. who occupy the Arctic stIbOard from East
en Greenland along the entire continent of America,
and across Behring Strait to the Asiatic shore The
villages of the EskimOs, consisting Of five or six
families each are scattered along the coast. VIII
lage site is usually selected upon some good landing
place. where there is sufficient depth of water to
float whale. The following account of the habits
of the Eskimos affords a goOl specimen of the au-
thors method Of treatment lis We'll rs his power Of
graphic description.
Tie Eskinos are essentially peculiar people. Their
character and their condition. the one OF necessity grow
ing out Of the other peculiar First, II is claimed
for than that they afe the anomalous race or America
any race OF the old Then they The lttoral peo
pie in the world. The linear extent OF their occupancy,
oil of it narrow seaboacd averaging scarcely one huu
bred miles in Width is estimated at less than five
THOUSAND miles. Before them Is vast, unknown, Icy
ocean, upon which they scarcely dare venture beyond
sight of land; behind them, hostile Manufacturers ever
ready to Dispute encroachincnt Tueir very mother
earth. upon whose cold bosom they have been borne,
axe after axe through countless generations s almost
inpencrabe thawess ice. Tnoir days and nights, ana
SEASONS and wears are not like those OF other men, Blk
months OF day succeed six months OF night. Tire
months of sunless Winter; three months Of nighess
Summer; six months Of gimme ring Wright
AL0ut the middle Of October the long night
OF Winter. The earth aud sea pu on an icy covering;
beasts and birds depart Tor rcSlOuS seltcted or more
cOBgenlal hhIaIJ hhddl III entertainments dells all
sinks into Tne little heat left by the re.
treating rates our INTO the deep Oic realms
Of space the temperature sinks rapidly TO forty or hity
degrees below free the AR Is huSted, the ocean
c~l" the so c'iu - Al awuI. painiul stlncss per
va,.es hCaiy sOiI;ddc. Not sound !. heard the
distant dn o. busy map ana ne hoisess. huin vi TIC
wIiLerues> alike ATE wanting Whispers become audible
nj considerable CiStaLc", ana an !surnf'aDle sense
sIOnaly the aurort horeatS flashes ont IN prlsnalc
corGsc@ucIS throwing irIaat arch from east to west
the varIOIs tints o HUI d1d green, anu violet ana
criuNon daf;iuc. G-shiuG, or streaming iD yellow
now IN wayy uuiuia Ions, sometimes w To- the very
zenith; monentarv lighting up IN majest. grandeur
eX ha,, 81 fore leaving den>er ODscurity. Natures
electric lantern, suspended cr tine in the frosty vault
0i ;.uu.lti'cnt hdtGIc's networks; with the
polar owl tue polar bear and tie polar man, spectators
Ia Ja1uary, tue br.l.iaacy Of the stars Is dImmed
pefcepuOly at noon; i'll February, q golden tint rests
upon the horizon at the Same hour IN March, the
incipei.t dawn broadens; in April, Tue DOING Eskimo
melt the impatient and flowers arrive as IL de-
parts. IN JanC the Summer mas fairly c. me-. Under
rays OF The never setting sun, the snow
speedily disappears, the Ire breaks un, TIE glacial
Earth socs Tor uepia Ci one, i%o Ur h tee d FSs
Winter, had btgH StUpIed.--if we believe sir john
Sea aud pU, and rolling sttppe lay aside their seam
less slrOaO white, and brilliant nut OF emerald
overspreads the landscape All Nature with one re-
FOcks Of bu,. luIvd from their Winter homes, I'LL the
their snr the and the reindeer f0ck down
from forests from the resonant sea comes the noise of
tpoutiug whales and barking seals and this lately
disual cheerless REGION blooms with exnberance OF
life oGuaed only BY the shortness of It's Duration And
In token OF Just appreciation OF the Creators good
ness tins animated medley -iDan, and beasts aud
birds aud fshesrises up, divides tails 10, aud ends in
Bating Or III being eaten.
the physical Characteristics OF the Eskimos are !: a
far the sk when FREQ from dirt and paint
being almost white: a medium stature well proper.
and beautifully shaped hands and feet; pyramidal
head; a broad eggshaped face; high rounded cheek.
bones fat nose small obliQue eyes; large mouth
teeth regular but well worn course black hair closely
the edge and paucity Of B. ard The men frequently
leave the hsir In natural state. The women of Icy
whole two bows at the back Of the head At