196 Indians of MrKenzie River District. 



1st. The Siccanees arc a tolerably numerous tribe. In this 

 district they resort to Forts Liards and Selkirk for purposes of trade 

 and inhabit the country between the Liards and the head waters 

 of Peace River among the Rocky Mountains entering into New 

 Caledonia. If they speak Chipewyan, their dialect is a very cor- 

 rupt one. In disposition they resemble the Beaver Indians, and 

 they are generally of good stature. 



2nd. The Nahannies live to the northward of the Siccanees, 

 about the head waters of the Liards Rivers, Francis Lake and the 

 Pelly River and westward across the mountains to the Pacific 

 In appearance they resemble the Slaves. 



3rd. The Loucheux are an exceedingly numerous and powerful 

 people, if the various tribes of them inhabiting Russian America 

 be taken into consideration. They occupy the northern waters of 

 the McKenzie from below Fort Good Hope and Point Separation, 

 where they meet the Esquimaux, as well as Peels River. They 

 are found across the Rocky Mountains on the Rat River, on the 

 Youcan or Kutchpark, and on the lower Pelly, in fact they people 

 the greater part of the interior of Russian America. 



In appearance they are bolder featured than the Slaves, as 

 well as of larger stature. Their disposition is blood-thirsty, and 

 independant, resembling a good deal that of the plain tribes. In 

 the treatment of women they are harsh, and female infanticide is 

 is not uncommon among them. Polygamy is prevalent, as well 

 as divorce for trifling misunderstandings. The Peels River Lou- 

 cheux put their dead on scaffolds, those of the westward burn 

 them, and much property is destroyed upon the death of a chief. 

 A strong belief in the powers of Medicine men is universal 

 among the Youcan tribes, no Indian dies by natural death, 

 but he is killed by the conjuration of another at some distance, 

 and this superstition is the cause of much bloodshed among them. 

 The Peels River branch is at war with the Esquimaux. They 

 were formerly a very numerous people, but war and disease have 

 sadly reduced them. Several treaties have been patched up between 

 these hostile nations by the Hudson's Bay Company, but only to 

 be broken, and the avenging of fresh murders keeps up an unbroken 

 line of deadly fueds. Having had a trading intercourse for several 

 years with the Company's Post at Peels River, these people have 

 become milder and much more tractable than their unsophisti- 

 cated brethren on the Youcan. 



The dress of the Loucheux or Kutchins is a peculiar one, it 



