.^08 NOTES ON THE TINNEH OR CHEPEWYAN INDIANS 



If not, it will make no difference afterwards as to the rectitude of their conduct 

 on a similar occasion. In the payment of their debts, also, they evince a much 

 greater sense of justice than the other tribes. They seldom or never dispute 

 their accounts if they be correct, and endeavor to liquidate them to the utmost of 

 their power. The Slaves are tolerably honest, but have great objections to clear 

 off old debts, giving for a reason that the articles purchased are already worn 

 out. The remaining tribes cannot be said to have a very keen perception of the 

 rights of property, and are apt to reverse Prudhomme's celebrated dogma, " la 

 propriete c'est le vol," into " le vol c'est la propriete." Among all the branches 

 of the eastern division, there Is no law to punish theft further than restoration ; 

 or if that cannot be had, purloining in return an article of similar or greater value, 

 They do not, however, in general, steal much among themselves. The taking 

 of provisions from " caches" in times of scarcity is reckoned perfectly lawful, but 

 only the. direst extremity will cause them to plunder those of the Hudson's Bay 

 Company. 



In the fabrication of false reports, and in the utterance of lies to serve their 

 own interests, they are great adepts. The former is generally done from a wish 

 to " cram," and is often rather ludicrous, but in the latter they evince a complete 

 disregard for truth, and never appear in the least degree ashamed when taxed with 

 it. There appears, indeed, to be a strong natural proneness to exaggeration in 

 the minds of the eastern Tinneh, and a warped bias towards falsehood, even when 

 a correct statement would equally serve their purpose. The smallest accident 

 becomes in their narration magnified into truly horrific proportions, and on hear- 

 ing of some terrible case of starvation or disaster from them, it is necessary to 

 take it " grano salis," as I have on several occasions seen the murdered restored 

 to life, and the starved to death jolly and fat. 



As a whole, the race under consideration is unwarlike. The Chepewyans, 

 Beavers, and Yellow Knives are much braver than the remaining tribes. I have 

 never known, in my long residence amung this people, of arms having been re- 

 sorted to in conflict. In most cases their mode of personal combat is a species 

 of wrestling, and consists in the opponents grasping each other's long hair. This 

 is usually a very harmless way of settling disputes, as whoever is thrown loses; 

 yet instances have occurred of necks having been dislocated in the tussle. 

 Knives are almost invariably laid aside previous to the contest. Some of the 

 Chepewyans box tolerably well, but this method of fighting does not seem to be 

 generally approved of, nor is it much practiced. On examination of the subject 

 closely, I am disposed to consider that this peaceful disposition proceeds more 

 from timidity than from any actual disinclination to shed blood. These Indians, 

 whether in want or not, will take the life of any animal, however useless to them, 

 if they be able to do so, and that they can on occasion be sufficiently treacherous 

 ai;d cruel is evinced by the massacre at St. John's, on Peace river, and at Fort 

 Nelson, on the Liard river. It may not be out of place here to give a brief 

 account of the latter catastrophe : 



In 1811 the post of Fort Nelson, on the Liard river, was in charge of a 

 Mr. Henry, a well educated and clever man, but of a hasty temper and morose 

 disposition. While equipping the Indians in the autumn, he had a violent dis- 

 pute with one of the principal chiefs of the Bastard Beaver Indians resorting to 

 the establishment, who departed greatly euragpd and muttering suppressed 

 threats, which were little thought of at the time. In the winter a " courier" 

 arrived at the fort to inforjn the whites that there were the carcasses of several 

 moose deer lying at the camp ready to be hauled, and requested dog sleds to be 

 sent for that purpose. Mr. Henry, never in the least suspecting any treachery, 

 immediately despatched all the men and dogs that he could muster. On their 

 way out they met an Indian, who told them that they had better turn back, as 

 the wolverines had eaten all the meat. This information, as it turned out, was 

 given from a friendly motive ; but fear of ulterior consequences to himself pre- 



