OF THE POLAR SEA. 249 
informed, that all the Indians who trade at the 
different posts in the north-west parts of America, 
imagine that their forefathers came from the east, 
except the Dog-ribs, who reside between the 
Copper Indian Lands and the Mackenzie’s River, 
and who deduce their origin from the west, which 
is the more remarkable, as they speak a dialect 
of the Chipewyan language. I could gather no 
information respecting their religious opinions, 
except that they have a tradition of the deluge. 
_ The Chipewyans are considered to be less 
expert hunters than the Crees, which probably 
arises from their residing much on the. barren 
lands, where the rein-deer are so numerous that 
little skill is requisite. A good hunter, however, 
is highly esteemed among them. The facility of 
procuring goods, since the commercial oppaaiioen 
i,has gi ven great 
native intiehianice of slidecmiticms as is manifested 
by the difference in the amount of their collections 
of furs and provision between the late and former 
years. From six to eight hundred packs of furs 
' used formerly to be sent from this department, 
now the return seldom exceeds half that amount. 
The decrease in the provision has been already 
mentioned. 
_ The Northern Indians suppose that they ori- 
” ginally sprang from a dog; and about five years 
