\j\^ 



* 



CHIPPEWYAN TO BLACK LAKE. 51 



bay, the Roman Catholic Mission church, and various 

 buildings connected therewith, are situated. This mis- 

 sion is a large and nourishing one, and is the see of the 

 Roman Catholic Diocese of Athabasca. All the build- 

 ings of Chippewyan are neatly whitewashed, so that, 

 particularly from the front, it presents a most striking 

 appearance. At the back of the Fort, between the 

 rocky hills, plenty of small timber for house-building 

 and firewood is found, and over at the Catholic Mission 

 a little farm is cultivated, and many luxuries in the way 

 of root vegetables obtained from it. 



The staple food, however, for both man and dogs 

 (which latter are important members of the community) 

 is fish, several varieties of which are caught in abund- 

 ance in the lake close at hand. One or two whitefish, 

 according to size, is the usual daily allowance for a dog. 



In the north the dog takes the place which the horse 

 occupies in the south, and it is a very interesting sight 



see the canine population of the town, perhaps thirty 

 or forty in all, receiving their daily meal. They are 

 called together by the ringing of a large bell, erected for 

 the purpose at all Hudson's Bay Company posts. At 

 the first stroke all dogs within reach of the sound spring 

 to their feet and scamper off to the feeding place, where 

 they find a man in charge of their rations. Forming 

 round in a circle, each dog waits for the portion thrown 

 to him, which he at once trots away with to enjoy in 

 some quiet retreat. Occasional snarls and fights take 

 place, but it is astonishing to see how orderly Chippe- 

 wyan dogs are able to conduct themselves at a common 

 mess. 



The day after our arrival at the Fort being Sunday, we 



