192 Indians of McKenzie River District. 



covered and surveyed by Mr. Roderick Ross McFarlane, lying to 

 the eastward of Fort George Hope, and flowing into Liverpool 

 Bay. To the northward and westward they fall in with the Lou- 

 cheux, or Kutching, and are on the best understanding with them, 

 although these people speak an entirely different tongue, are dis- 

 tinguishable in features, and distinct in their superstitions and 

 habits of life. On the western side an intermixture takes place 

 with the Nahannies, Siccanees, Manocies, Monde and other tribes 

 of different names, but most likely all of cognate race with the 

 Chipewyar.s themselves. 



The known branches into which the Chipewyan race has divi- 

 ded itself are as follows : 1st. the Chipewyans of English River, 

 Athabasca and Great Slave Lake ; 2nd. the Beaver Indians of 

 Peace River ; 3rd. the Caribou Eaters and Yellow Knives of 

 Athabasca and Great Slave Lake ; 4th. the Dog Ribs of Great 

 Slave Lake and Martin Lake ; 5th. the Slaves of Great Slave Lake 

 and the McKenzie and Levid Rivers ; 6th. the Hare Indians of 

 McKenzie River and Bear's Lake, all of which will be passed 

 separately and briefly in review. 



1st. The Chipewyans inhabit the south east portion of the 

 territory already mentioned, and are the most numerous family of 

 their race. The name Chipewyan or Chipawyan is apparently 

 one given by the Crees, meaning (Chipaw), pointed and (wyan) 

 shirts. If this be actually its derivation, it would appear that the 

 Chipewyan tribes wore shirts or tunics of the same shape as the 

 Loucheux dress at some former period. This shape is now never 

 seen among them. The name among themselves is the rather 

 grandiloquent one of Dimish, or The People. They are in gene- 

 ral of middle-size and well proportioned, the face flat with high 

 cheek bones, giving a pear-like appearance to the head. Their 

 hair is strong and coarse, but they have neither beard nor whiskers ; 

 the hands and feet are small and well made. For an aboriginal 

 people their character is not bad, for although selfish and grasping 

 to the utmost degree, they are honest and far from blood-thirsty. 

 They are all confirmed liars, and they treat their women more as 

 slaves than companions. Morality among them is at a low ebb. 

 Polygamy though not common exists, and, although very jealous 

 of their wives, chastity in unmarried females is scarcely considered 

 a virtue among them. A Roman Catholic Mission has been 

 for several years established among this tribe, which doubtless 

 has had some effect, in preserving the outward decencies of mo- 



