The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-20

como or the dwellings OF the peoplN
themselves were still OF snow, but most
Of them had had the snow roofs re.
placed by ones Of caribou skins, and
few families were living In caribou
skin tents.
One Of the first things we learned
here was something which changed
our plans for the summer completely,
We were told that there were no peo-
pie on Banks Island in summer. Our
hformants themselves, they said, had
spent the winter there at various
points on the southeast coast and
were the only people who did live any
where on Banks Island.
They had all left there in what We
understood to be the latter part Of
March, and were now bound for the
eastward. THO majority intended to
ascend tho River kagloryuak. which
hows into the east end, OF Prince
Albert Sound and rises near the
centre of the island. Another river,
they told us. the Ekalluktok, also
rises near the centre OF the island,
but flows east into what We identified
as Albert Edward Bay. Up this river
would come To meet them the tribe
Of the Ekalluktogmiut. who hunt on
DeasA Strait in winter but who fro.
quent the same caribou hunting
grounds in summer as do the Prince
Albert Sound people, partly on &C.
count of the caribou, but also for
| trading purposes.
People of Wide Travel.
One of the first things I did q. the
village Of the Prince Albert Sound
people was to inquire about their
knowledge OF white men. This group
is rot only the most prosperous az
well as the most numerous OF all the
Copper Eskimo but they are also re-
markahle for the extent OF their sea-
sonai migrations and for their conse-
9uentiy greater amount OF informa-
ton in regard TO their own country
and other countries and their general
81 oadmlndedness. With them as with
US extensive travels have had their
important effect upon their mental
outlook and the character of the peo-
pie.
l found therefore that they were
familiar not only with the presence
of tho exploring vessels to the west
of their country during the time Of
the Franklin search and with the To-
cation of tho Bay ot Mercy and the
abandonment OF McClure's ship there,
but they also knew about King will
lam Island far to the cast, and about
the frequent visits OF white men to Il,
and they even had information about
the distant island OF North Devon.
But most remarkable OF all was the
variety OF countries they had seen
with their own eyes. During the mid
die of winter they occupy the south
eastern coast OF Banks Island, and It
has always been so in the past, SO
far as they know. About March each
year they start east, and toward the
middle OF May, as We could tell from
our present experience. they get to
the eastern end OF Prince Albert
Sound. On the Sound they split into
various parties. a fow so north to
hunt, between the Sound and Mimic
Inlet; in some years n few go south
to meet the people OF Simpson Bay
and a considerable number also go
northeast from the northeast corner
OF the Sound about forty miles 70
hunt caribou and to get from the
copper outcrops there material to
make implements for themselves and
for barter
The largest body goes east, as havs
said already, 10 meet the people Of
Albert Edward Bay near tho centre
OF Victoria Island But I'm most years
two or three slcds detach themselves
from the main body In Prince Albert
Sound, hurry cast ahead OF the others
to Prince Albert Bay and thence south.
They abandon their sleds when the
summer overtakes them and proceed
south with pack dogs, the people them
selves carrying packs. until they reach
the Back River. The Back River peos
PIE, known to them az the HaninS-
ayogmiut. ferry themselves across Ia
kayaks and they resume their over
land travel until in August they reach
wooded section Of another river. the
Arkilinik.
The chief object OF this long Jour
uey is 10 get wood and wooden artt-
clos. Some they make themselves
cutting the trees and shaping the
wood. Others they got by barter with
the Eskimo OF tho Arkilinik, in eX-
change for copper implements ana
similar things.
(Copyri0ht, 1919. by Vilhjdlmur 81
fdnssoh)
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