OF THE POLAR SEA. 



293 



boys capable of pursuing the chase. They differ but little from the 

 next we are about to mention, the Edchawtaichoot-dinneh, Strong- 

 bow, Beaver, or Thick-wood Indians, who frequent the Riviere aux 

 Liards, or south branch of Mackenzie's Kiver. The Strong-bows 

 resemble the Dog-ribs somewhat in their disposition ; but when they 

 meet they assume a considerable degree of superiority over the latter, 

 who meekly submit to the haughtiness of their neighbours. Until 

 the year 1813, when a small party of them from some unfortunate 

 provocation, destroyed Fort Nelson on the Riviere aux Liards, and 

 murdered its inmates, the Strong -bows were considered to be a 

 friendly and quiet tribe, and esteemed as excellent hunters. These 

 people take their names, in the first instance, from their dogs. A 

 young man is the father of a certain dog, but when he is married, 

 and has a son, he styles himself the father of the boy. The women 

 have a habit of reproving the dogs very tenderly when they observe 

 them fighting, — " Are you not ashamed," say they, " are you not 

 ashamed to quarrel with your little brother ?" The dogs appear to 

 understand the reproof and sneak off. 



The Strong-bows, and Rocky-Mountain Indians, have a tradition 

 in common with the Dog-ribs, that they came originally from the 

 westward, from a level country, where there was no winter, which 

 produced trees, and large fruits, now unknown to them. It was 

 inhabited also by many strange animals, amongst which there was 

 a small one whose visage bore a striking resemblance to the human 

 countenance. During their residence in this land, their ancestors 

 were visited by a man who healed the sick, raised the dead, and 

 performed many other miracles, enjoining them at the same time to 

 lead good lives, and not to eat of the entrails of animals, nor to use 

 the brains for dressing skins until after the third day ; and never to 

 leave the skull of deer upon the ground within the reach of dogs 

 and wolves, but to hang them carefully upon trees. No one knew 

 from whence this good man came, or whither he went. They were 



