Country of the Copper Eskimos 19 



This island is a well-known fall gathering place for those Eskimos who have 

 spent the summer up the Coppermine, those who have been in the country of the 

 Rae and Richardson rivers, and for some people from the east. It is a good fish- 

 ing ground, and when we were there in the. spring, herds of caribou were con- 

 tinuously visible. 



"Inland from the mouth of the Coppermine, the country is generally tundra, 

 rising evenly and with scattered lakes in the small valleys. Not far above the 

 mouth the river contracts to about half a mile in width and has steeply sloping 

 alluvial cut banks. 



"Eskimos travelling inland in the Coppermine river country have as their 

 principal object the securing of wood. Secondary objects are the trade with 

 Indians or white men at or near Great Bear lake, the securing of copper, and 

 the hunting of caribou for the fall clothing skins. Hunting and fishing to supply 

 daily wants are at all times of first importance. 



"The generally accepted route of travel on the Coppermine is to go up the 

 west side of the river for some indefinite distance, usually twenty to forty miles, 

 then strike southwest for Dismal lake (Tasirpik), and then south to Lake 

 Rouvier {Imernek), and west to Great Bear lake (Imaryuak). Some of those 

 who this year (i.e. 1916) went to Great Bear lake told me they would return to 

 near the northwest corner of Dismal lake, swing north and even west from there 

 and come back to the Coppermine near its mouth. In all about eighty Eskimos 

 left the mouth of the river this year for inland and of these about half left the 

 main party at various times after ten miles up the river and went west. These 

 said they were going to the places where they found copper. The two latter 

 parties would probably meet at some time before fall. 



"A party of three or four families from the Tree river also went inland. 

 They said they would follow up the west branch of the Tree river to where it 

 headed near the Coppermine and then go overland to the Coppermine where 

 they expected to meet and trade with the Indians. These are presumably Dog 

 Rib Indians from Fort Rae. They expected to be gone until the snow was on 

 the ground and to bring wood in addition to the lead and powder they would get 

 from the Indians. 



"The party from the Tree river left the coast just a few days before the snow 

 left. The party from the mouth of the Coppermine did not leave the coast until 

 the snow was nearly all gone. Both parties were packing with their dogs. 



"The route up the west side of the Coppermine is one of easy travel. Long, 

 gentle, grassy tundra slopes to low rolling country offer no difficulties to either 

 packing with dogs or travel with toboggan. The usual travel is some distance 

 back from the river, and before they strike for Dismal lake, no creeks with 

 steep gullies are met. Travelling toward Dismal lake, the country is level with 

 a good deal of swampy tundra until one commences to climb the long slopes of 

 fhe so-called Copper mountains. These mountains, which attain an elevation 

 of probably not more than 1,500 feet, are in reality a long series of basalt terraces. 

 Since they occupy a belt of about fifteen miles wide and the terraces are numerous 

 and low, the general effect is of a long gentle slope on the north with a somewhat 

 steeper and more irregular slope to the south. Dismal lake lies just south of 

 this ridge.i 



" From Dismal lake to Lake Rouvier, the country is more rugged, but there 

 are at least two recognized routes to Lake Rouvier, both of them following the 

 gently sloping valleys of creeks which have numerous lakes. These valleys 

 offer good feeding and hunting grounds for caribou, and the lakes probably 

 contain fish. 



iT}}e Rev. H. Girling writes that "The Eskimos go up the Coppermine to where a line of cliffs running 

 inland cpmes to an end in a round hill with a definite cutting on the east side. This hill is known as Koluk- 

 huk, and from its summit the Dismal lakes are clearly visible. The natives follow the hills to a gully, 

 which leads them to the lakes. 



23335— 2i 



