160 A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



give them their respective 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 territory, 

 are considered to be of the best origin. 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 Lands 

 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 language. I could gather no information respecting 

 their religious opinions, except that they have a tradition of a 

 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 among them. 

 The facility of procuring goods, since the commercial opposition 

 commenced, has given great encouragement to their native indolence 

 of disposition, as is manifested by the difference in the amount of 

 their collections of furs and provision between the late and former 

 years. From six to eight hundred packs of furs used formerly to 

 be sent from this department, now the return seldom exceeds half 

 that amount. The decrease in the provision has been already 

 mentioned. 



The Northern Indians suppose that they originally sprang from a 

 dog; and, about five years ago, a superstitious fanatic so strongly 

 pressed upon their minds the impropriety of employing these ani- 

 mals, to which they were related, for purposes of labour, that they 

 universally resolved against using them any more, and, strange as it 

 may seem, destroyed them. They now have to drag every thing 



