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wintering place have the exclusive right of permitting others to
settle there.
When the ESKIMO «TRIBES» are spoken of in works on
the Arctic Regions, their native names will generally be found
ending in — miut or -mut which signifies «inhabitants of». —
The ending is joined to a name which refers either simply to
a territory or to a particular wintering station, but comprising
the surrounding territory with the other stations that may be
found there. The application of the term «TRIBE» is
undoubtedly the most correct in this case. As to the Eskimo it will
imply the possession of a territory and generally of a dialect in
the strictest sense. Moreover, it will indicate the ordinary limits
of the «law of hospitality» and defense not only against other
tribes, but also against individuals dangerous to their own, in
other words the same to «tribe» as bloodvengeance is to «gens».
Concerning government it must be remembered that the
regular ASSEMBLIES OF THE PROVIDERS in each wintering place
and occassionally LARGER MEETINGS of people from different
stations have served for councils as well as courts. Recent
investigations in the extreme East have confirmed what has
formerly been but vaguely alluded to, namely that EACH LARGER
HOUSEHOLD COMPRISING SEVERAL FAMILIES HAS A CHIEF, as
conscientiously venerated and obeyed as heads of communities or
magistrates are elsewhere.
As to the courts and the possibility of maintaining the
authority of law, it must be remembered that the members in
these isolated communities are, more immediately dependent on
their fellow men than the members of a civilised society, and
that, what is considered at the most a trifling inconvenience
in the latter, may be a severe punishment in the former. We
know that anciently in Greenland, public opinion formed the
real judgement seat, the general punishment consisting in the
offenders being shamed in the eyes of people. The regular
courts were the public meetings or parties which at the same
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