ECONOMIC CONDITIONS. 131

of ducks, some of which are represented by immense numbers. In fact, the
accompanying illustration does not begin to give an idea of the flocks of
water-fowl which I have often raised, especially along the outlet of Stuart
Lake. The sky in front of me was then literally darkened by their fleeing
swarms.

To the wild ducks must be added eight kinds of geese or brants, without
counting the beautiful emperor goose of Alaska, two species of swans with
rather few representatives, two cranes, one of which is usually found in large
flocks, etc. Yet the economic importance of these various aquatic birds pales,
among the Carriers, before that of a Single species it remains with me to
name. Three sorts of grebes visit in the early spring the half frozen lakes of
the western Dénés; but one, Aechmorphosus occidentalis, though by no means
delicate as an article of diet, appears in such vast numbers and is so easily
secured that it forms a most valuable addition to the northlander’s larder.
For a period of a fortnight’ or so, its legions cover the lower end of his lakes
but recently emprisoned under a coat of ice.

And then the Dénés have fish, which, in the north especially west of the
Rocky Mountains, is quite an important item in their daily menu, without
mentioning such game as bears and beavers which are sought as much for
the sake of their fur as on account of their flesh. The former we shall detail
when we come to treat of fishing; the latter shall be further described in our
chapter on hunting.

Famine.

It would seem from the foregoing that the northern Dénés are not so
badly off as regards economic resources, and, conversely, that our opening
sentence as to their life being a constant struggle with nature was hardly appo-
site. And yet if there is in the world a land where wretchedness and starvation
usually reign supreme, it is undoubtedly the northern territory of the race
under study. Of course, much of their misery could be laid at the doors of
their own improvidence, which in some cases is really phenomenal. But this
is shared, at least to some extent, by all the aboriginal nations of America,
some of which were as familiar with affluence as with want. The truth is that,
as the northern Dénés derive absolutely no benefit from the soil, all their
alimentary resources are more or less aleatory and uncertain. Abundant in the
extreme for a few days, they may afterwards fail for months, yea, almost
for years.

Were not these sad conditions so well known through the missionaries
in their midst, we could still point to the unvarying statements of all the
explorers who ever wrote of their country. The journal of any one would
bear me out in my assertion. I take at random that of Captain Back, from
which I cull a few facts in corroboration of the same.

On the 29th. of September 1833, he chronicles the return of a canoe
with “not a good load of meat as [he] had hoped, but with a poor old

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