THE CHIPEWYANS 



151 



own recognised hunting ground, usually a given river 

 valley, that is his exclusive and hereditary property; 

 another hunter may follow a wounded animal into it, 

 but not begin a hunt there or set a trap upon it. 



Chipewyan canoe, Smith Landing 



Most of their time is spent at the village, but the 

 hunting ground is visited at proper seasons. 



Fifty years ago they commonly went half naked. 

 How they stood the insects I do not know, and when 

 asked they merely grinned significantly; probably 

 they doped themselves with grease. 



This religious training has had one bad effect. In- 

 spired with horror of being "naked" savages, they do 

 not run any sinful risks, even to take a bath. In all 



Dogrib canoe 



the six months I was among them I never saw an 

 Indian's bare arms, much less his legs. One day after 

 the fly season was over I took advantage of the lovely 

 weather and water to strip off and jump into a lake 

 by our camp; my Indians modestly turned their backs 

 until I had finished. 



