290 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



tribe. The adherents of Akaitcho amount to about forty men and 

 boys ; the rest follow a number of minor chiefs. 



For the following notices of the nations on Mackenzie's River, 

 we are principally indebted to Mr. Wentzel, who resided for many 

 years in that quarter. 



The Thlingcha-dinneh, or Dog-ribs, or, as they are sometimes 

 termed after the Crees, who formerly warred against them, Slaves, 

 inhabit the country to the westward of the Copper Indians, as far 

 as Mackenzie's River. They are of a mild, hospitable, but rather 

 indolent, disposition. They spend much of their time in amuse- 

 ments, and are fond of singing and dancing. In this respect, and 

 in another, they differ very widely from most of the other Abori- 

 gines 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 treat- 

 ment of the fair sex being usually considered as an indication of 

 considerable progressive civilization, it might be worth while to 

 inquire how it happens, that these people have stept so far beyond 

 their neighbours. They have had, undoubtedly, 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 hope of success, but 

 we may recall to the reader's memory what was formerly mentioned, 

 that the Dog-ribs say they came from the westward, whilst the 

 Chipewyans say that they migrated from the eastward. 



When bands of Dog-ribs meet each other after a long absence? 

 they perform a kind of dance. A piece of ground is cleared for the 

 purpose, if it is winter of the snow, or if summer of the bushes ; and 



