12 CHEPEWYANS. 



infancy the boy discovers that he may show any 

 amount of arrogance towards his sisters, who, as 

 soon as they can walk, are harnessed to a sledge, 

 and inured betimes to the labours which are their 

 inevitable lot through life ; while the future hunter 

 struts in his tiny snow shoes after the men, and 

 apes their contempt of the women. The women 

 drag the sledges alone or aided by dogs, clear the 

 ground for the tent, cut poles to extend the lodge 

 or tent-skins upon, collect fire-wood, bring water, 

 make all the dresses and shoes, clean the fish, and 

 smoke or jerk the venison for its preservation. 

 They also cook both for themselves and their hus- 

 bands, the 'Tinne not holding the opinion of the 

 Kutchin that a man ought not to eat meat pre- 

 pared by a woman. Neither are the 'Tinne women 

 altogether precluded from eating with the men ; 

 though in times of scarcity the man would expect 

 to be first fed, as it is a maxim with them that the 

 woman who cooks can be well sustained by licking 

 her fingers. The women are not, however, gene- 

 rally discontented with their lot, and better days 

 are certainly dawning upon them, as the opinions 

 of the traders are beginning to tell visibly on the 

 whole nation. Notwithstanding their servile con- 

 dition they are not without influence over the 

 stronger sex ; and they seldom permit provisions 

 or other articles to be disposed of without ex- 



