■6 \ TIIANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIA>f INSTITUTE. [VoL. IV. 



the scene of this world. So that the sooner the Dene technology is 

 brought to light, the better it will be in the interest of science. 



Indeed, should any value whatever be attached to the present 

 monograph, I feel quite certain that it will be entirely on account of its 

 opportuneness. Undertaken twenty- five years ago, it could probably have 

 been made more exhaustive. After the lapse of an equal space of time, 

 its usefulness as a contribution to archaeological knowledge would be 

 problematical. I am at present the possessor of the only remaining 

 specimens of some objects illustrative of the past Carrier sociology, and 

 my familiarity with the language and original customs of the Indians to 

 whose spiritual wants I minister, might not be enjoyed by a successor 

 among them until time and circumstances deprive its use of much of its 

 value. 



These considerations, corroborated by the requests of scientists whose 

 advice I have not the right to disregard, have emboldened me to attempt 

 a description of such technological objects as can be illustrated from 

 ■specimens in my possession or which are still in common use among the 

 Western D^nes. The number of these, as will soon appear, is somewhat 

 limited, and therefore my task cannot be very arduous. I only regret 

 that my mineralogical shortcomings render an exact description of the 

 material used in the fabrication of stone implements in a few cases impos- 

 sible. For the identification of such rocks as are adequately described, 

 I am under obligation to Dr. G. M, Dawson, Assistant Director of the 

 Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa. 



As technology is the prime object of this monograph, the industries of 

 the Western Denes will be mentioned in so far only as may be necessary 

 for the clear understanding of the nature and use of the objects therein 

 described. Which statement should not convey the idea that 1 intend to 

 make light of their claims to importance in an ethnological contribution. 

 With a little reflection, it will become apparent that all human industries 

 need material aids or means to manifest themselves, and their results 

 must also take a concrete form. Now, these palpable data, be they the 

 products of human ingenuity or the instruments employed in their 

 •development, are per se technological items, and by reviewing the latter, 

 one cannot help treating of the former. Therefore I simply mean to 

 say that the archaeological, rather than the industrial, plan will be 

 adopted in the following pages. In other words, our divisions shall be 

 based, not on the industries of the Western Denes, but, as far as practical, 

 on the material of the weapons, tools, utensils, fishing devices and other 

 implements under consideration. 



