sciKNCE TN Rupert's land. 345 



themselves they purchase their furs from distant tribes, among whom 

 they regularly make excursions. Often the medicine-men and chiefs 

 have more beads than they can carry abroad with them, and when 

 this happens the Company's stores are converted into banicing estab- 

 lishments, where the deposits are invested for safe keeping. The 

 women are fewer in number, and live a much shorter time than the 

 men. This mortality among the women arises from their early marriage, 

 the harsh treatment they receive, and the laborious work which 

 they have daily to perform. While the marked inferiority in point of 

 numbers is caused, I fear, by acts of infanticide, which are pre^^alent 

 among them on the birth of female children. Praiseworthy efforts 

 have been made by the Company's officers to prevent this, but the 

 unhappy mothers have replied that they did it to prevent the child 

 from experiencing the hardships they endure. 



" The men reminded me of those of the Plain tribes, with their 

 birds and feathers, nose jewels of ioqua shells, necklaces of copper, 

 and plentiful supply of paint, which was almost the first time I had 

 seen it used in the district. The nose jewels of the ioqua shells 

 gave the expression of the face a singular appearance. The women 

 did not use much paint, but its absence was atoned for by tatooing, 

 which appeared universal among them. This singular custom seems 

 to be one of the most widely diffused practices of savage life ; and 

 was not unknown among the ancients, as it, or something like it, 

 seems to be forbidden to the Jews : " Ye shall not print any marks 

 upon you." — Lev, xix. 28. 



" Polygamy, which is prevalent in almost all other barbarous nations, 

 is also common among these Youcon Indians, notwithstanding the 

 great desparity in numbers of the sexes ; and is often the source of 

 much domestic unhappiness among them. The New Zealander multi- 

 plies his wives for show ; but the object of the Kutchin is to have a 

 greater number of poor creatures whom he can use as beasts of burden 

 for hauling his wood, carrying his meat, and performing the drudgery 

 of his camp. The Kutchins marry young, but no courtship precedes, 

 nor does any ceremony attend the union. All that is requisite is the 

 sanction of the mother of the girl, and often it is a matter of negoti- 

 ation between her and the suitor when the girl is in her childhood ; 

 this, indeed, constitutes almost the sole prerogative of the sex. Nei- 

 ther the father nor any other of the girl's relatives apparently is al- 

 lowed to have a voice in the matter. 



Vol. VII. T 



