198 THE GREAT DENE RACE.

When the larger baskets, tcatyaf, as they are called, are full or nearly
so, their contents are covered with leaves of Epilobium, as a protection against
the flies and the rays of the sun. The joyous troop then trips home, packing
on their backs their precious burdens. If industrious and thoughtful, they will
not fail to have their breast baskets equally full, in prevision of the demands
made on their generosity by the passers-by on the way and the children at
home. This manceuvring of the women-folk is repeated day after day, and the
westerners attach to it so great an importance that they will sometimes move
out and camp for weeks with their families and friends on their berry grounds.

For, even in this respect, the land is parcelled out among them, and the
privileges inherent to proprietorship as regards the berry patches are jealously

guarded. This remark, however, must be understood as applying only to the
staple fruit, that is, the service-berries among the Carriers and the huckle-
berries with the Babines.

Furthermore, the daily return of the women to the village might almost
be viewed in the light of a social event. As soon as they are sighted, those
who enjoyed the Indian far niente at home greet them with a sort of song,
which is audible and intelligible only to the initiated. It consists simply in soft
whisperings with the throat, tongue and lips, emitting no sound but that of
an undescribable breathing.

When a sufficient supply of the fruit is at hand, the Carriers set upon
taking the necessary steps towards its preservation. As I could not improve
on the description of the process which I have given elsewhere, I transcribe
it here. The operation is too important an exhibition of native industry on