﻿WIVES. 383 



against another, and will purchase a well tempered 

 blade at a high price. Guns have been lately in- 

 troduced among the Kutchin, and are in great de- 

 mand. All the men carry powder and ball, whether 

 they own a gun or not, and for it obtain a share of 

 the game killed by the possessors of fire-arms. The 

 same custom exists among the Dog-ribs. 



The husbands are very jealous of their wives, but 

 in general treat them kindly, contrasting in these 

 respects with their neighbours. The Chepewyans 

 treat their wives indifferently, and are jealous: the 

 Eskimos treat them well, and are not jealous. The 

 principal men of the Kutchin possess two or three 

 wives each, and Mr. Murray knew one old leader 

 who had five. Poor men, whose abilities as hunters 

 are small, and who have been unable to accumulate 

 beads, remain bachelors * ; but a good wrestler, even 

 though poor, can always obtain a wife. In winter 

 the women do all the drudgery, such as collecting 

 the fire wood, assisting the dogs in hauling the 

 sledofe, bringino; in snow to melt for water, and in 

 fact perform all the domestic duties except cooking, 

 which is the man's ofiice ; and the wives do not eat 

 till the husband is satisfied. In summer the women 

 labour little, except in drying meat or fish for its pre- 



* Scilicet uxorem cum dote, fidemque, et amicos, 

 Et genus, et formarn, regiiia pecunia donat, 

 Ac bene nummatum decorat Suarlela Venusque. 



