OF THE POLAR SEA. 



49 



River* They are of a mild, hospitable, but 

 rather indolent, disposition ; spend much of 

 their time in amusements, and are fond of 

 singing and dancing. In this respect, and in 

 another, they differ very widely from most 

 of the other aborigines of North America. 

 I allude to their kind treatment of the 

 women. The men do the laborious work, 

 whilst their wives employ themselves in 

 ornamenting their dresses with quill-work, 

 and in other occupations suited to their sex. 

 Mr. Wentzel has often known the young 

 married men to bring specimens of their 

 wives' needle-work to the forts, and exhibit 

 them with much pride. Kind treatment of 

 the fair sex being usually considered as an 

 indication of considerable progress in civili- 

 zation, it might be worth while to inquire 

 how it happens, that this tribe has stept so 

 far beyond its neighbours. It has had, un- 

 doubtedly, the same common origin with 

 the Chipewyans, for their languages differ 

 only in accent, and their mode of life is 

 essentially the same. We have not suffi- 

 cient data to prosecute the inquiry with any 



VOL. III. E 



