OF THE POLAR SEA. 



219 



been taught by the traders to value most 

 highly. 



They all promised to follow my advice, 

 and assured me it was not they, but the 

 Stone Indians, who robbed and annoyed the 

 traders. The Stone Indian who was pre- 

 sent heard this accusation against his tribe 

 quite unmoved, but he probably did not 

 understand the whole of the communication. 

 We left them to finish their rum, and went 

 to look round the lodges, and examine the 

 pound. 



The greatest proportion of labour in 

 savage life falls to the women ; we now saw 

 them employed in dressing skins, and con- 

 veying wood, water, and provision. As 

 they have often to fetch the meat from some 

 distance, they are assisted in this duty by 

 their dogs, which are not harnessed in 

 sledges, but carry their burthens in a 

 manner peculiarly adapted to this level 

 country. Two long poles are fastened by 

 a collar to the dog's neck ; their ends trail 

 on the ground, and are kept at a proper 

 distance by a hoop, which is lashed between 



