OF THE POLAR SEA. 



291 



the dance frequently lasts for two or three days, the parties relieving 

 each other as they get tired. The two bands commence the dance 

 with their backs turned to each other, the individuals following one 

 another in Indian file, and holding the bow in the left hand and an 

 arrow in the right. They approach obliquely, after many turns, and 

 when the two bands are closely back to back, they feign to see each 

 other for the first time, and the bow is instantly transferred to the 

 right hand, and the arrow to the left, signifying that it is not their 

 intention to use them against their friends. At a fort they use 

 feathers instead of bows. The dance is accompanied with a song. 

 These people are the dancing-masters of the country. The Copper 

 Indians have neither dance nor music but what they borrow from 

 them. On our first interview with Akaitcho, at Fort Providence, he 

 treated us, as has already been mentioned, with a representation of 

 the Dog-rib dance ; and Mr. Back, during his winter journey, had an 

 opportunity of observing it performed by the Dog-ribs themselves. 



The chief tribe of the Dog-rib nation, termed Horn Mountain 

 Indians, inhabit the country betwixt Great Eear Lake, and the west 

 end of Great Slave Lake. They muster about two hundred men 

 and boys capable of pursuing the chase. Small detachments of the 

 nation frequent Marten Lake, and during the summer hunt in the 

 neighbourhood of Fort Enterprise. Indeed this part of the country 

 was formerly exclusively theirs, and most of the lakes and remarkable 

 hills bear the names which they imposed upon them. As the 

 Copper Indians generally pillage them of their women and furs when 

 they meet, they endeavour to avoid them, and visit their ancient 

 quarters on the barren grounds only by stealth. 



Immediately to the northward of the Dog-ribs, on the north side 

 of Bear Lake Kiver, are the Kawcho-dinneh, or Hare Indians, who 

 also speak a dialect of the Chipewyan language, and have much of 

 the same manners with the Dog-ribs, but are considered both by 

 them and by the Copper Indians, to be great conjurers. These 



2 P 2 



