224 THE GREAT DENE RACE.

According to the traditions of the people, the copper mine responsible
for the name of the important stream to the east of the Mackenzie was dis-
covered by a woman who, having been abused by the men she was leading
thereto, vowed in revenge for the outrage to gradually deprive them of their
new treasure. She was a great conjurer, and “when the men had loaded
themselves with copper and were going to return, she refused to accompany
them, and said she would sit on the mine till she sunk into the ground, and
that the copper would sink with her. The next year, when the men went for
more copper, they found her sunk up to the waist, though still alive and the
quantity of copper much decreased; and on repeating their visit the year
following, she had quite disappeared, and all the principal part of the mine
with her’?.

In Hearne’s time native copper was exchanged with even imported iron.
The standard of trade was then an ice-chisel of copper for a like implement of
iron, or an ice-chisel and a few arrow-heads of copper for a half worn hatchet.

In the west, the popular mind had similarly invested with mystery the
finding of copper. The Carriers claim that, in times not very remote, all the
Indians — themselves included — congregated at a certain point of the sea
coast around a tower-like copper mountain emerging from the depths of the
water. Their object was to decide which tribe should become the possessor
thereof. When all had united in shouting, the mountain began gradually to
totter, and the Haidas, who are blessed with big heads and strong voices,
caused it to fall on their side. “Thus it was’, they add, “that those Indians
won the copper mountain, and ever since we have been obliged to have
recourse to them for what we require of that metal to make bracelets for our
wives and daughters’.

Be this as it may, it is certain that it is from that quarter that the
western Dénés derived all their copper in prehistoric times. It was therefrom
also that, later on, they procured their stock of iron or iron goods, giving
in return leather and beaver, lynx, fox and marten skins. The copper came
to them in small bars of which they made dog collars, arm-bands, bracelets
and tweezers. They occasionally converted it into arrow-points. To this day
native copper is highly prized even on the coast, especially when fashioned
into the shield-like “coppers”, which are the property of the hereditary chiefs.

As to iron, the Carriers likewise received it in the shape of bars about
eighteen inches long by two in width. They gave it an edge at one end,
and, having fixed it to a handle at right angles, they used it as an axe.
When too worn for that purpose, they made spears and arrow heads out of
it. Mackenzie saw some in 1793 that originated from the sea coast and was
being put to such uses.

' Hearne, op. cit., p. 175, footnote.