126 PR'JCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



ing to his adopting inotlier's chin. In this case however, he could 

 claim the right to joint use of the hunting grounds together with the 

 heir who had inherited their real ])ro|)rietoiship. 



Landed pi'operty is unknown among the Sekanais and Eastern 

 Nah'anes who are governed by father-right. Among them the eldest 

 son, or failing him, a surviving; brother succeeds the deceased father 

 of a family as leader of the t)and while engaged in hunting. On the 

 other hand, although groups of related families ordinarily hunt in the 

 same mountains, streams or lakes as their ancestors, they do not 

 I'egard them as their exclusive ])roperty and will never contest tlie 

 ]'ight of others to hunt or trap thereon. 



VII. 



As previously stated our Denes and, as a rule, all races of Abori- 

 gines I may say, are very fond of their little one.s and. as a conse- 

 -quence. Infanticide has been exceedingly rare among them. Never- 

 theless, a native custom now happily discontinued, required an 

 exception in cases of twins, one of whom had to be disposed of, as 

 two children at one birth were thought portentous of ill and not 

 much less than a natural monstrosity. 



When the period of confinement arrived, the mother would be de- 

 liveied of her child without the help of a midwife, in any i>lace and 

 under any circumstances — in her lodge or even while travelling, and 

 apparently without any pain. This was the almost invariable exper- 

 ience in former times ; but truth obliges me to add that among tlie 

 Carriers, the most civilized of the four tribes, women have not gained 

 much by the change in their diet and mode of living, inasmuch as 

 painful accouchements and even death, at childbirth, are becoming 

 unhappily of too frequent occurence; still-born children are also more 

 numerous than formerly. 



Circumcision is unknown among tlie Western Dene.s, and I have 

 never heard of any ]>ractice in favour among any tribe* which could 

 be construed as a remnant thereof. 



Formerly children were named a short time after their birth by 

 their parents or any person who was believed to have received, while 



