OF THE POLAR SEA. 81 



rica. I allude to their kind treatment of the 

 women. The men do the laborious work, whilst 

 tlieir wives employ themselves in ornamenting 

 their dresses with quill work, and in other occu- 

 pations suited to their sex. Mr. Wentzel has 

 often known the young married men to bring 

 specimens of their wives' needle-work to the 

 forts, and exhibit them with much pride. Kind 

 treatment of the fair sex being usually consi- 

 dered as an indication of considerable progress 

 in civilization, it might be worth while to inquire 

 how it happens, that these people have stept so 

 far beyond their neighbours. They have had, 

 undoubtedly, the same common origin with the 

 Chipewyans, for their languages differ only in 

 accent, and their mode of life is essentially the 

 same. We have not sufficient data to prosecute 

 the inquiry with any hope of success, but we 

 may recall to the reader's memory what was 

 formerly mentioned, that the Dog-ribs say they 

 came from the westward, whilst the Chipewyans 

 say that they migrated from the eastward. 



When bands of Dog-ribs meet each other after 

 a long absence, they perform a kind of dance. 

 A piece of ground is cleared for the purpose, if 

 it is winter of the snow, or if summer of the 

 bushes; and the dance frequently lasts for two 

 or three days, the parties relieving each other as 

 Vol. II. 



