XIV 

 BENIAH'S ARRIVAL 



WITH the first Sunday in March came the anxiously 

 awaited Beniah, in a cariole, as befitting a hunter of his 

 reputation, and with an attendant, also riding, as became 

 the servant of so powerful a leader. I may say in pass- 

 ing that Beniah has a very accurate conception of his 

 importance, and never fails to impress it upon those with 

 whom he comes in contact. He is really the best hunter 

 in the country, and in Northland possessions fur and 

 dogs reckons a deal more than any other individual. 

 He is a "leader" in his tribe Dog-Rib in so far as be- 

 ing the head of a hunting-party, and of bringing in the 

 largest number of skins to the company. There is no 

 other kind of "leaders" in any of the tribes no councils 

 and no election to such prominence by vote or heredity. 

 Leadership is a survival of the fittest, and he who gains 

 the distinction earns it. 



Beniah is much respected by his people, and is alto- 

 gether a very superior Indian ; short in stature, probably 

 five feet five inches, but sturdy. He can talk longer with- 

 out exhausting a subject than any man I ever knew. In 

 our subsequent powwow there was no contingency he did 

 not foresee, especially if it was to operate adversely to 

 him, and no point of an agreement that was not thor- 

 oughly threshed out; in fact, he showed a logical mind 

 that sometimes became lost in metaphors, but pretty 



