328 THE POLAR WORLD. 



long fowling-piece thrown carelessly across the arm, or balanced on the back of 

 the neck. The several articles here enumerated are ornamented at the seams 

 and hems with leatlii'r thongs wound round with porcupine quills, or more or 

 less embroidered with bead-work, according to the industry of the wife or 

 wives. One of the young men, even of 'the slovenly Dog-ribs, when newly 

 equipped, and tripping jauntily over the mossy ground with an elastic step, dis- 

 plays his slim and not ungraceful figure to advantage. But this fine dress once 

 donned is ncjither laid aside nor cleaned while it lasts, and soon acquires a dingy 

 look, and an odor which betrays its owner at some distance. In the camp a 

 greasy blanket of English manufacture is Avorn over the shoulders by day, and 

 forms with the clothes the bedding by night." 



In winter they clothe themselves with moose or reindeer skins, retaining the 

 hair, while a large robe of the same material is thrown over the shoulders, and 

 hangs down to the feet in place of the blanket. The women's dress resembles 

 the men's, but the skirt is somewhat longer, and generally accompanied by a 

 petticoat which reaches nearly to the knee. The form of dress here described 

 is common to the whole Tinne nation, and also to the Crees, but the material 

 varies w^ith the district. Thus moose-deer, red-deer, and bison leather are in 

 use among the more southern and western tribes, and the Hare Indians make 

 their skirts of the skins of the animal from w^hich they derive their surname. 

 As this, however, is too tender to be used in the ordinary way, it is torn into 

 narrow strips, twisted slightly, and plaited or worked into the required shape. 

 Such is the closeness and fineness of the fur that these hare-skin dresses are 

 exceedingly Avarm, notwithstanding the closeness of their texture. 



The Hare Indian and Dog-rib women are certainly at the bottom of the 

 scale of humanity in North America. Not that they are treated Avith cruelty, 

 but that they are looked upon as inferior beings, and in this belief they them- 

 selves acquiesce. In early 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, Avhile the tiny hunter struts in his snoAv-shoes after the 

 men and apes their contempt of the Avomen. All the work, except hunting and 

 fishing, falls to their share ; yet they are in general not discontented Avith their 

 lot. 



It Avould be A-ain to look among the Dog-ribs for the stoicism popularly 

 attributed to the Indians, for they shrink from pain, shed tears readily, and are 

 A^ery timorous ; but all, young and old, enjoy a joke heartily, and Avhen young 

 are lively and cheei-ful. When bands of their nation meet each other after a 

 long absence, they perform a kind of dance. A piece of ground is cleared for 

 the pur])ose, and the dance frequently lasts for tAvo or thi-ee days, the parties 

 relieving each other as they get tired. The two bands commence the dance 

 with their backs turned to each other, the individuals folloAving one another in 

 Indian file, and holding the boAv in the left hand and an arroAv in the right. 

 They ajiproach obliquely after many turns, and Avhen the two bands are closely 

 back to back, they feign to see each other for the first time, and the boAv is in- 

 stantly transfcn-ed to the right hand and the arroAv to the left, signifying that 

 it is not their intention to use them against their friends. Their dancing, which 



