OF THE POLAR SEA. 



287 



CHAPTEE VIII. 





Fort Enterprise 



for the Journey to the Northward. 



Indians — Preparations 





1821. 





March is. I SHALL now give a brief account of the Copper Indians, 

 termed by the Chipewyans, Tantsawhot-dinneh, or Birch-rind Indians. 

 They were originally a tribe of the former people, and, according to 

 their own account, inhabited the south side of Great Slave Lake, at no 

 very distant period. Their language, traditions, and customs, are essen- 

 tially the same with those of the Chipewyans, but in personal character 

 they have greatly tne advantage of that people ; a circumstance which 

 is to be attributed, probably, to local causes, perhaps to their procuri ng 

 their food more easily and in greater abundance. They hold wo- 

 men in the same low estimation as the Chipewyans do, looking upon 

 them as a kind of property, which the stronger may take from the 

 weaker, whenever there is just reason for quarrelling, if the parties 

 are of their own nation, or whenever they meet, i£ the weaker 

 party are Dog-ribs or other strangers. They suffer, however, the 

 kinder affections to shew themselves occasionally ; they, in general, 

 live happily with their wives, the women are contented with their 

 ot, and we witnessed several instances of strong attachment. Of 

 their kindness to strangers we are fully qualified to speak ; their love 

 of property, attention to their interests, and fears for the future, made 

 them occasionally clamorous and unsteady ; but their delicate and 

 humane attention to us, in a season of great distress, at a future 



