THE NORTHLAND INDIAN AS HE IS 



99 



no native industries of any description, no weaving of 

 blankets, no making of jewelry or pottery, absolutely noth- 

 ing beyond some indifferent beading and porcupine-quill 

 work, which is done by several other tribes, and most 

 notably by the Navajos in New Mexico. 



As for sentiment, they have none beyond that torpo- 

 rific bliss caused by a full stomach. Yes, they have one 

 other fear. They are abject cowards. In an earlier chap- 

 ter I spoke of a gift of moccasins conveying indication of 

 a tender sentiment ; but that sentiment is relative. The 

 men marry to have some one to make moc- 

 casins for them, and the women marry be- 

 cause, poor things, they have little choice 

 in the matter, and that little probably sug- 

 gests it is better to be the servant of one 

 man than the drudge of a family. There 

 are no playful displays of maternal affec- 

 tion. I think I saw just one instance of 

 the kind on my trip ; and, on the other 

 hand, I saw one young mother take her 

 crying and moss-bag-enveloped baby out 

 of the lodge and stand it up in the snow 

 to weep itself into exhaustion ! There are 

 no gentle words to convey the tender 

 solicitudes of courtship, no terms of or- 

 dinary politeness : only in the Loucheux tongue can 

 thanks be expressed. The exposure to which they are 

 subjected in their wanderings, and the withering of the 

 famines and gluttony of the feasts, combine to break down 

 health and shorten life. And the greatest blessing they 

 enjoy probably is that they die comparatively young, and 

 go, wherever it may be, to a place which they make sure 

 cannot be more barren of comfort or pleasure. 



ANCIENT KNIFE 

 WITH BEAVER- 

 TOOTH BLADE 



