The sun., 1891-07-12
climatic or other conditions have driven man

| climatic or other conditions have driven mar
far south OF the regions he once occupied.
Tho most northern people OF the world to
day arc the handful OF Esklmos, supposed
to be about one hundred In number, called
tho Etah natives who 1.-Two upon the wes,
coast of Greenland, between 76o and 79e
north latitude. For many years after KANE
came home with his vivid and absorbing
story OF these isolated natives, they were sup
posed to have built their stone huts nearer
the pole than any other human beings. We
know now, however, that BEssELs, MARES.
and GREELY found numerous traces OF hui
man occupancy as far north as the eighty
second parallel; and so long ago was 1t that
they built their huts Gnd sledges and hunted
the bear and walru5 In the far north ol
Grant Land that the Etah natives OF to-day
have only tho dimmcst and most uncertain
| traditions that in the time OF their FORE
fathers men lived to the north Of thom.
| But 1t is In the great islands near our Arc
tic coast, and In the smaller Parry Islands.
still nearer tho pole, that the most striking
evidences are found that man formerly lived
hundreds Of miles north of the most north
ern homes he occupies In that region to-day.
The present limit OF human occupancy skirts
our coast line from Belirlng Sea to point
some distance east OF Caps Bathurst outs
through tho lower part OF Prince Albert
Land and Boothia, and then, turning north
east, skirts the northern shores OF Baflin
Land to Lancaster Sound. North OF this
line. above which no natives are now known
to exist, are abundant traces OF the ancient
habitations OF the Eskimo. There, separated
only by narrow channels are Wollaston
Land, Prince Albert Land Banks Land.
Melville Island. Prince OF Wales Island, the
northern part OF Bootha, and other
islands, on all OF which has been
found moro or less abundant evidence OF
former occupancy. These remains consist
almost wholly OF stones laid together In cir
clcs aud OF the ruins Of winter huts, and they
are found usually upon the south edges OF
tho islands Upon the north aud west edges
no traces have bsen discovered Of ancient
hGbita,ions. Directly north ofour mainland.
over all urea embracing forty-lve degrees OF
longitude. traces OF former human occu-
pancy have boon discovered at an average
distance OF about 800 miles north OF tho
present northern limit OF human life. There
is no doubt, however, that, particularly In
northeastern America, the Eskimos Of to-
day travel on hunting expeditions a very
considerable distance north OF the prosont
limit OF habitation.
Capt. HOLM discovered tho most northern
natives who arc now known to exist, upon
the east coast OF Greenland at Sermilik in
Csc north latitude; but the KoLDEwEY Ger
man expedition OF 1869-7O found human re-
mains. evidently Of great antiquity, seven
degrees further north, and CLAvERING, In
1923. reported seeing small party Of Eski-
mos GU Pendulum Island, In about 75o north
latitude. 1t is possible, however, that this
party were improving a favorable summer
to hunta very considerable distance north
Of their homes.
Capt ADAMS, the whaler who has made
some praiseworthy contributions to Arctic
exploration, suggested several years ago
that In the interests Of humanity the Etah
or Smith Sound natives should be removed
to South Greenland. There is NO doubt, lie
says, that the hardshps OF their lives are
gradually exterminatDg them. and that II
left in their far northern homes, they will
utterly perish within the next two or three
generations. They seem to be approaching
tho fate which apparently overlook the
earlier repre- esentatives OF their race who
lived far north OF the present Eskimo habi-
tat. 1t Is probable that the same causes
which are operating to-day to drive back
the race from its northern vantage ground,
are those which In the past have turned
southwark or destroyed the northern van
guard, leaving only scattered relics to tell
the story Of their struggle against destiny.