128 proceedings of the canadian institute. 



Table of the Births and Deaths at Nakaztli (Stuart Lake).^ 



Even more satisfactory data could be i-ecorded of otlier Carrier 

 villages whose population are in conditions more favorable to natural 

 increase. But I regret to be unable to furnish the reader with vital 

 statistics of the four tribes or any whole tribe. However, I think 

 the above a fair specimen of the avei-age variations in the native 

 population as far as the Carriers ai'e concerned. As for the Chilli;^- 

 otins, it must be admitted that they do not keep abreast of the Carriers 

 in natural increase, whilst it is certain that the Sekanais who used to 

 hunt on this side of the Rocky Mountains have, for the last few years, 

 been declining in numbers at a rather disquieting rate. 



VJII. 



The staple food of the Western Denes before the introduction of 

 civilization and its concomitants, may be described under three heails : 

 Fish, Meat and Berries, to which correspond the co-relative pursuits 

 of Fishing, Hunting and Collecting. 



Salmon is to the Carrier and Chilh;(Otin what seal is to the Esqui- 

 maux, rice to the Chinaman and wheat to the white man. Give them 

 a large run of salmon, and abundance with its logical associates, rejoic- 

 ing, feasting and dancing reign in the camp; cut off the supply, and 

 there will be famine and desolation, silence in the village and mel.iu- 

 choly in all hearts. 



Only two species of salmon are believed to come up as far as 

 Stuart's Lake through the Eraser and it'i affluents ; they are the red 



' Children who died in the year of their birth are not counted in the above table. It is also 

 but proper to note that, though last year an aggravated fonn of mea^iles attacked all the children 

 of this village below, and some above, the age of 15, yet, thanks chiefly to the ado))tion and en- 

 forcement of stringent and prudential measures, only two of them who were at the time away 

 with their parents in the woods succumbed to the disease. 



