148 THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



and the work falls principally upon them, it is 

 erroneous to suppose that they are ill-treated, or 

 that the women labour harder or endure greater 

 hardships than the men. 



The Indian is constantly engaged in hunting, to 

 supply his family with food ; and when that is scarce, 

 he will set out without any provision himself, and 

 often travel from morning to night for days before 

 he finds the game he seeks ; then, loaded with meat, 

 he toils home again, and whilst the plenty lasts, con- 

 siders himself entitled to complete rest after his 

 exertions. This self-denial of the men, and their 

 wonderful endurance of hunger, was illustrated by 

 the case of our Hunter, Keenamontiayoo, who, several 

 years ago, narrowly escaped death by starvation. 

 That winter buffalo did not come up to the woods, 

 and moose and fish were very scarce. After killing 

 his horses one after another when driven to the last 

 extremity, the family found themselves at last with- 

 out resource. The Hunter, leaving with his wife and 

 Misquapamayoo a scanty remnant of dried horse- 

 flesh, hunted for two days without success, and at 

 last, faint and still fasting, with difficulty dragged 

 himself home. All now made up their minds to 

 die, for the Hunter became unable to move, and his 

 wife and boy too helpless to procure food. After being 

 eight days longer without tasting food, and exposed 

 to the fierce cold of winter, they were fortunately dis- 

 covered by some of the Company's voyageurs, and 

 the man tied on a sleigh and carried to Carlton. 

 The woman and boy had not starved completely 



