and language the first two are a little more closely connected to each than to the latter two.
Qaernermiut [qaᴱrnᴇrmiut] means "the dwellers of the flat land", which is the term for the stretches behind Rankin Inlet. This tribe is mentioned en passant by Hall,[1] but became better known through the Schwatka Expedition; for it is this that, under the name of Kinipetu, has hitherto figured as the type of inland Eskimos. The word Kinipetu is always used by the whites at Hudson Bay but never by the Eskimos themselves, of whom only the few who have regular intercourse with the whites know it at all. It ought therefore to be expunged from scientific terminology. As to its origin the following anecdote is related: When one of the first whalers wintered at Marble Island, the ship was one rainy day visited by some Qaernermiut. A woman, who wished to dry her clothes at the stove, pointed to them and said [kinip·atut], "they are wet", and this was taken to be the name of the tribe, which has since clung to them. Low calls them Kenipituiut,[2] which is pure nonsense, as the suffix [-mio], dweller, presupposes a local designation. Boas is the first to give the right name through the information he has received from Captain G. Comer. He writes: "The name Kinipetu is said to be derived from kī'nipoq ('it is wet'), while their proper name is Kiaknukmiut".[3] On the other hand it is not correct to connect this name, though in a slightly changed form, with the Eskimos at Back River.[4] This same mistake has been made both by Stefánsson and Jenness, who heard the word among the Copper Eskimos.[5]
Hauneqtôrmiut [haunᴇqtɔ·rmiut] means "dwellers of where bones abound", a river which runs into Mistake Bay north of Ferguson River. Another Hauneqtôq a little north of Hikoligjuaq has nothing to do with this. This tribe is mentioned both by Low, who refers to it as Shaunuktungmiut, and by Boas, who writes Sauniktumiut.[6] As has already been stated, there is a vacillation between [h] and [ʃ].
The Harvaqtôrmiut [hᴀrvᴀqtɔ·rmiut] derive their name from Harvaqtôq, i. e. "where rapids abound", which is a term meaning the lower Kazan River. This group has not previously been mentioned in literature, but possibly, as a result of the similarity between the words, has been confused with the foregoing tribe, about which more later on.
The Pâdlimiut [pa·dlimiut] themselves assert that their name is not
- ↑ Hall 1879; 171.
- ↑ Low 1906; 135 and passim.
- ↑ Boas 1907; 6.
- ↑ ". . . the Ugdjulirmiut of Back River, who are called by the Ponds Bay people Kournoormiut". Boas 1907; 480.
- ↑ Stefánsson 1914 a; 28. 302. Jenness 1922; 49 foot-note. In another place Stefánsson (1914: 290) identifies them with "Pallirmiut", i. e. Pâdlimiut.
- ↑ Low 1906: 135 seq. Boas 1907; 6, 465.
