Ross on Botanical and Mineral Products. 133 



ARTICLE. XII. — An account of the Botanical and Mineral pro- 

 ducts^ useful to the Ckipewyan tribes of Indians, inhabiting 

 the McKenzie River District. By Bernard R. Ross, 

 H.B.CS. 



(^Read before the Natural History Society of Montreal.') 



A nation of hunters, paying no attention whatsoever to agri" 

 culture, can enjoy but few of the numerous benefits aflforded by 

 the vegetable kingdom to the human race in general. Such is 

 the condition of the Chipewyan tribes of Indians. Though the 

 benefits derived from the inighty forests which fill the Mackenzie 

 valley, are but few to their denizens, they may be considered not- 

 withstanding their fewness, to be of essential, indeed of vital im- 

 portance to the existence of the aboriginal dwellers in these wilds ; 

 since without fuel to warm them, and without canoes to migrate, 

 they would soon cease to exist. 



From the vegetable kingdom are derived fuel, canoes, sleds, 

 paddles, snow-shoes, baskets, dyes and food, besides other articles 

 which will be noticed hereafter. Two trees, the canoe birch 

 (^Betula papyracea) and the white spruce (^Abies alba) stand out, 

 ^rom their importance, in bold relief; but the larch and willow are 

 used also, as well as several kinds of plants,which furnish medicines, 

 dyes, and edible berries that are useful in periods of scarcity. Indeed 

 in summer, a considerable portion of the ordinary food, as well as 

 the luxuries of the natives, is drawn from this source. 



According to the method adopted in my former paper on the 

 zoological products, I shall pass the various uses of each species 

 briefly in review : — 



The Canoe or Paper Birch (Betula papyracea). — The benefits 

 which this valuable tree confers on the inhabitants of the McKenzie 

 River District, are many and important. Its baik is used in the 

 construction of canoes, and in the manufacture of various utensils 

 for domestic use, such as drinking cups, dishes, and baskets. It 

 also yields spunk or touchwood of the best quality. Of its woodi 

 platters, axe-helves, paddles, snow-shoe-frames, dog-sleds and other 

 articles are made, and as it is a strong and durable material, of 

 close grain, and susceptible of receiving a tolerable polish, the 

 white residents avail themselves of it for the construction of furni- 

 ture. In spring, the sap forms a pleasant drink, from which a 

 syrup can be manufactured by boiling, and which may be further 

 transformed, by fermentation, into an agreeably flavoured wine of 

 considerable potency. Beyond the arctic circle, the birch is rare 



