82 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



. they get tired. The two bands commence the 

 dance with their backs turned to each other, the 

 individuals following one another in Indian file, 

 and holding the bow in the left hand and an 

 arrow in the right. They approach obKquely, 

 after many turns, and when the two bands are 

 closely back to back, they feign to see each other 

 for the first time, and the bow is instantly trans- 

 ferred to the right hand, and the arrow to the 

 left, signifying that it is not their intention to use 

 them against their friends. At a fort they use 

 feathers instead of bows. The dance is accom- 

 pamed with a song. These people are the 

 dancmg-masters of the country. The Copper 

 Indians have neither dance nor music but what 

 they borrow from them. On our first interview 

 with Akaitcho, at Fort Providence, he treated us, 

 as has already been mentioned, with a representa- 

 Uon of the Dog-rib dance ; and Mr. Back, during 

 his winter journey, had an opportunity of observ- 

 mgit performed by the Dog-ribs themselves. 



The chief tribe of the Dog-rib nation, termed 

 Horn Mountain Indians, inhabit the country be- 

 t.vixt Great Bear Lake, and the west end of 

 Great Slave Lake. They muster about two 

 hundred men and boys capable of pursuing the 

 chase. Small detachments of the nation frequent 

 Marten Lake, and during the summer hunt in 



