OF THE POLAR SEA. 47 



Few of this nation have more than one 

 wife at a time, and none but the leaders 

 have more than two. Akaitcho has three, 

 and the mother of his only son is the fa- 

 vourite. They frequently marry two sis- 

 ters, and there is no prohibition to the 

 intermarriage of cousins, but a man is re- 

 stricted from marrying his niece. 



The last war excursion they made against 

 the Esquimaux was ten years ago, when 

 they destroyed about thirty persons, at the 

 mouth of what they term Stony-Point River, 

 not far from the mouth of the Copper-Mine 

 River. They now seem desirous of being 

 on friendly terms with that persecuted na- 

 tion, and hope, through our means, to esta- 

 blish a lucrative commerce with them. 

 Indeed, the Copper Indians are sensible of 

 the advantages that would accrue to them, 

 were they made the carriers of goods be- 

 tween the traders and the Esquimaux. 



At the time of Hearne's visit, the Copper 

 Indians, being unsupplied with fire-arms, 

 were oppressed by the Chipewyans ; but 

 even that traveller had occasion to praise 



