﻿406 KUTCHIN. 



after another, out of which he made the world. 

 The Kenaiyer tradition is, that the Kaven also 

 made two women, one of whom is the mother of 

 six races, and the other of five.* It was the 

 custom that the men of one stock should choose 

 their wives from another, and the offspring be- 

 longed to the race of the mother. This custom 

 has fallen into disuse, and marriages in the same 

 tribe occur ; but the old people say that mortality 

 among the Kenaiyer has arisen from the neglect of 

 the ancient usage. A man's nearest heirs in this 

 tribe are his sister's children, little going to his 

 sons, because they received in their father's lifetime 

 food and clothing. 



Courtship is a simple affair with these people. 

 Early in the morning the lover makes his appear- 

 ance at the abode of the father of the object of his 

 choice, and, without a word of explanation, begins 



* The stock descended from one female ancestor are, 1. the 

 Kachgiya, from Gekaihze "the raven;" 2. Tlachtana, so called 

 from their being weavers of grass-mats ; 3. Montochtana, who 

 take their name from a corner in the back part of their huts ; 

 4. Tschichgi, named from a colour ; 5. Nuchschi, " descendants 

 from heaven ;" 6. Kali, "fishermen ;" 



The races sprung from the other woman are, 1. Tultschina, 

 " bathers in cold water ;" 2. Katluchtna, " lovers of glass 

 beads ;" 3. Schischlachtana, " deceivers like tlie raven, who 

 is the primary instructor of man ;" 4. Nutschichgi; and 5. Zal- 

 tana, named from a mountain on the borders of Lake Skiliich 

 towards the sources of the river Katnu. 



