116 THE GREAT DENE RACE.

with that tribe, but who unluckily made his appearance as the annual tribute
was being levied’!. But then all was evidently deemed fair against such
enemies as the hated Innuit.

Again, Harmon gives the following rather unflattering character to the
Carriers: “They are not in the habit of stealing articles of great value; but
they are the sliest pilferers, perhaps, upon the face of the earth. They will
not only pilfer from us, but, when favourable opportunities offer, they are
guilty of the same low vice among their friends and relations”’*. Allowing for
a grain of exaggeration on the part of the trader, his statement is substantially
correct. But the Carriers cannot be regarded as typical Dénés, and the foible
mentioned by Harmon is more proper to children than to adults.

Other features of the Dénés’ moral character in connection wherewith
travellers are more unaccountably at variance among themselves are the
nation’s psychic dispositions, and its standing with regard to the moral
virtues of hospitality and gratitude.

The Chippewayans are naturally morose, says Th. Simpson*, who thereby
simply repeats Hearne’s assertion that the Northern Indians as a whole “are
in general morose and covetous’4. But “they are not a morose people”,
retorts Richardson, who adds: “On the contrary, when young and in a
situation of security, they are remarkably lively and cheerful’’®. Who is right?
The reader has only to remember my initial statement concerning the infantile
stage of the Dénés’ mental advancement, and his answer casnot fail to be
correct. As there is hardly a more child-like race on the face of the earth,
few people are so cheerfully disposed, or so “very good humoured”, as
Whymper has it of the Loucheux he met®. “All, young and old, enjoy a
joke heartily”, declares Richardson. Nothing is truer. They are constantly
poking fun at one another, and if you are afflicted with any physical or
moral defect, you will be the theme, for days or weeks, of endless plea-
santries, not any too refined to be sure, but to them the occasion of a very
enjoyable pastime.

I was going to add on my own account that they are great mimics,
when | happened to fall on an identical remark in Richardson’s work,
wherein the explorer says that “they readily ape the peculiarities of any
white man”’. People of different tribes or villages, or, indeed, of their own
band as well frequently come in for their share of innocent abuse. During
my numberless missionary journeys in the company of four or five young

1 [bid., p. 101.

“An Account of the Indians’, p. 243.

° Op. cit., p. 165.

* Op. cit., p. 307.

> Op. cit., vol. Il, p. 13.

6 “Travel and Adventure in the Territory of Alaska”, p. 153.
7 Op. cit., vol. II, p. 13.