The British Association: Section H—Anthropology

Abstract

THE first paper read in this Section was that of Prof. Boyd Dawkins, On the Range of the Eskimo in Time and Space. In his introductory sentences Prof. Dawkins remarked on the importance and interest of his subject. He began his inquiry into the condition of the Eskimo by particularising those of Greenland. By the aid of a sketch-map upon the blackboard, he traced the progress of the dwellers on the Arctic shores, following them to the continent of Asia. He noted that in the vast region which is occupied by the Eskimo the degree of civilisation is practically the same, that civilisation being of a rude nature. Speaking of their relations to other nations, the Professor remarked on the broad belt of enmity, a debatable ground, that exists between the Eskimo and the Red Indian, between whom there is no friendship. But, he said, there is a likeness between the tongues of the two races, though this does not by any means prove any affinity between them. Coming to the question of the date of the settlement of the Eskimo in Greenland, he said that Markham's assumption that they crossed by Behring Straits from Asia, being driven forth by Tartar hordes, was purely assumption, and that this opinion was not shared by Mr. Dall or himself. He held that there was proof that the Eskimo, in the year 1000, ranged farther southward than where we are now. There was reason to believe this, he said, by archæological proofs, and he maintained that the Eskimo were a retreating race, being continually driven farther north by stronger and more powerful tribes, such as the Red Indians, and that if the Arctic regions had been less inclement (this being safety to this people), before this time the Eskimo would have been exterminated by the Red Indians. Even in Asia, he said, these were a retreating race, pushed farther to north and east by pursuing tribes. The lecturer remarked on the word “kayak” or boat, used by the Eskimo, and its likeness to the word (caique) used for the same object by the Turkish people, and quoted his friend Dr. Isaac Taylor, who had traced the history of this word. He explained the etymology of this word in an interesting manner, and caused a little laughter by remarking that the boat was used by the Eskimo to carry their “wives, children, and other chattels.” He said, in concluding the first portion of his inquiry, that, from proofs established, the Eskimo formerly lived in a wide range of country far more south than their present habitation, and that they were driven to the north by more powerful nations. Speaking of the range of the Eskimo in time, Prof. Dawkins made some very interesting remarks on the habits and implements of the cave-dwellers in Europe. Illustrating the artistic power of these dwellers, the lectxvrer pointed out an enlarged sketch of a reindeer, drawn on bone, and found in a cave in Switzerland. This sketch, he said, was perfectly natural, and was admirably done by the skin-clad artist whom he pictured. He also showed the picture of an elephant, with trunk uplifted, and mouth opened, found in a cave in Auvergne. The habits of life of these cave-dwellers in Europe, he said, were the same as those of the Eskimo, and those only of the Eskimo; their implements were the same, and he would connect them in many ways, such as neglect of the rites of sepulture, for instance. The cave-dwellers, he maintained, were in every respect similar to the Eskimo, and this bore out his theory that the latter people are a retreating race in Europe, and once lived far southward of their present range. With regard to the time at which these cave-dwellers existed, and when the Eskimo came into America, the Professor said that the former dwelt in Europe in what is known as the “Pliocene” period. He said that in his opinion the Eskimo represented as a race the ancient cave-dwellers of Europe, and as such he regarded them with interest and respect. He thought that the difficulty of the question of migration was partly disposed of by the fact that the water of Behring Straits was extremely shallow, and in concluding a most interesting address, he recapitulated the proofs that he had brought forward in order to support his assertions.