16 CHEPEWYANS. 



proceed to divide them among themselves, leaving 

 to the proper owner the ribs, which is all that 

 he can claim to himself of right. He has also 

 the tongue, which he takes care to cut out on 

 killing the deer. It is not in the power of these 

 people to restrain their appetites when they have 

 abundance ; and the consequence is, that when the 

 chase is successful, all the community feast and 

 grow fat, however little many of the men — and 

 there are not a few idle ones — may have contributed 

 to the common good. The hunter's wife dries the 

 rib-pieces, after cutting out the bone, in the smoke, 

 or over a fire, to carry to a fort for the purposes of 

 trade ; but, unless there is a superabundance, little 

 provision is made by the party for a time of scarcity, 

 which is sure to arrive before long ; since the deer, 

 when much hunted, move to some other district. 

 Taught by their frequent sufferings on such occa- 

 sions, the more active hunters frequently withdraw 

 themselves and their families from the knowledge of 

 the drones of the community, leaving them at some 

 fishing station, where, with proper industry, they 

 may subsist comfortably. A fish diet is not, how- 

 ever, agreeable to the palates of these people for any 

 length of time ; and, as soon as rumours of a hunter's 

 success reach them, — which they do generally much 

 exaggerated by the way, — a longing for the flesh- 

 pots is instantly excited, especially among the old, 



