OF THE POLAR SEA. 



59 



yans ; but he would give them their re- 

 spective names, if they were Europeans, 

 Canadians, or Cree Indians. 



As they suppose their ancestors to come 

 originally from the east, those who happen 

 to be born in the eastern part of their terri- 

 tory, are considered to be of the purest 

 race. I have been informed, that all the 

 Indians who trade at the different posts in 

 the north-west parts of America, imagine 

 that their forefathers came from the east, 

 except the Dog-ribs, who reside between the 

 Copper Indian Islands and the Mackenzie's 

 River, and who deduce their origin from 

 the west, which is the more remarkable, as 

 they speak a dialect of the Chipewyan lan- 

 guage. I could gather no information re- 

 specting their religious opinions, except 

 that they have a tradition of the deluge. 



The Chipewyans are considered to be 

 less expert hunters than the Crees, which 

 probably arises from their residing much 

 on the barren lands, where the rein-deer 

 are so numerous that little skill is requisite. 

 A good hunter, however, is highly esteemed 



