INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. The Indian Nations, partly on account of their geographical position, partly in reference to the materials which have been obtained, will be arranged under the following heads, viz. 1. Those who are altogether north of the United States, but not including those families which are partly in the British Possessions and partly in the United States. 2. The Algonkin-Lenape and Iroquois Nations. 3. The Southern Indians east of the Mississippi, and those on the western side of that river south of the Arkansas. 4. The tribes between the Mississippi and the Pacific Ocean. But of those west of the Rocky Mountains an imperfect gen- eral notice only can be given, as I have been disappointed in the expectation of obtaining vocabularies or recent correct in- formation from that quarter. SECTION I. INDIAN TRIBES NORTH OF THE UNITED STATES. These embrace only the two great families of the Eskimaux and of the Athapascas, and some small tribes, bordering on the Pacific Ocean, and situated north of the 52d degree of north latitude. Eskimaux. The name of Eskimaux, given to the Indians of this family, is derived from the Algonkin word " Eskimantick," " Eaters of raw fish." They are the sole native inhabitants of the shores of all the seas, bays, inlets, and islands of America, north of the sixtieth degree of north latitude, from the eastern coast of Greenland, in longitude 21°, to the Straits of Behring, in longi- tude 167° west. vol. n. 2
