thousand one hundred and four miles, on snow-shoes, and had no
other covering at night, in the woods, than a blanket and deer-skin,
with the thermometer frequently at — 40°, and once at — 57°; and
sometimes passing two or three days without tasting food.”
CHAPTER IX.
Continuation of Proceedings at Fort Enterprise—Some Account of the Copper Indians—Preparations
for the Journey to the Northward.
Mari1 is. I SHALL now give a brief account of the Copper Indians,
termed by the Chipewyans, Tantsawhot-dinneh, or Birch-rind Indians.
They were originally a tribe of the Chipewyans, and, according to
their own account, inhabited the south side of Great Slave Lake,
at no very distant period. Their language, traditions, and customs
are essentially the same with those of the Chipewyans, but in personal
character they have greatly the advantage of that people;
owing, probably, to local causes, or perhaps to their procuring their
food more easily and in greater abundance. They hold women in
the same low estimation as the Chipewyans do, looking upon them
as a kind of property, which the stronger may take from the weaker,
whenever there is just reason for quarrelling, if the parties are of
-their own nation, or whenever they meet, if the weaker party are
Dog-ribs or other strangers. They suffer, however the kinder affections
to shew themselves occasionally; they, in general, live happily
with their wives, the women are contented with their lot, and we
witnessed several instances of strong attachment. Of their kindness
to strangers we are fully qualified to speak ; their love of property,
attention to their interests, and fears for the future, made them
occasionally clamorous and unsteady; but their delicate and humane
attention to us, in a season of great distress, at a future period,