OF THE POLAR SEA. 



161 



themselves on sledges. This laborious task falls most heavily on the 

 women ; nothing can more shock the feelings of a person, accus- 

 tomed to civilized life, than to witness the state of their degrada- 

 tion. When a party is on a march the women have to drag the 

 tent, the meat, and whatever the hunter possesses, whilst he only 

 carries his gun and medicine case. In the evening they form the 

 encampment, cut wood, fetch water, and prepare the supper ; and 

 then, perhaps, are not permitted to partake of the fare until the 

 men have finished. A successful hunter sometimes has two or three 

 wives ; whoever happens to be the favourite, assumes authority over 

 the others, and has the management of the tent. These men 

 usually treat their wives unkindly, and even with harshness; except, 

 indeed, at the time when they are about to increase the family, and 

 then they shew them much indulgence. 



Hearne charges the Chipewyans with the dreadful practice of 

 abandoning, when in extremity, their aged and sick people. The 

 only instance that came under our personal notice was attended with 

 some palliating circumstances: — An old woman arrived at Fort 

 Chipewyan, during our residence, with her son, a little boy about 

 ten years old, both of whom had been deserted by their relations, 

 and left in an encampment, when much reduced by sickness : two or 

 three days after their departure the woman gained a little strength, 

 and, with the assistance of the boy, was enabled to paddle a canoe 

 to the fishing station of this post, where they were supported for 

 some days, until they were enabled to proceed in search of some 

 other relations, who, they expected, would treat them with more 

 kindness. I learned, indeed, that the woman bore an extremely 

 bad character, and had even been guilty of infanticide, and that her 

 companions considered her offences merited the desertion. 



This tribe, since its present intimate connexion with the traders, 

 has discontinued its war excursions against the Esquimaux, but they 

 still speak of that nation in terms of the most inveterate hatred. 



