1892-93] NOTES ON THE WESTERN DENES. 7' 



As for the third, or sociological scope of this paper, I think that our 

 title will be justified not only by numerous transient mentions of native 

 customs and practices, but more especially by extended descriptions of 

 the Aborigines' usages and superstitions in connection with fishing and 

 trapping, their domestic economy as regards diet and remedies, their 

 ceremonial dress, their habitations, etc. However, for more systematic 

 information concerning the Dene sociology, the reader must be referred, 

 to another paper published some years ago under the title of " The 

 Western Denes ; their Manners and Customs." * 



Mythology may be regarded as a mirror wherein the psychological 

 ideas and the particular social institutions and mode of life of a people- 

 are faithfully reflected. Therefore I have not deemed it inconsistent 

 with the nature of my subject to intersect the following pages with a few 

 short legends or traditions, especially when these may prove a help 

 towards the formation of a more correct idea of the objects hereafter 

 described. 



* Proceedings Can. Inst., vol. vii., p. 109, et seq. 



