IN THE NORTH 57

Of course, Father Morice did not have everywhere
such dangerous experiences; but as he constantly
showed himself fearless when the fulfilment of a duty
was at stake, affairs due to the Indians’ general fickle-
ness in love matters too often resulted in disagreeable
difficulties, wherefrom, however, he always turned up
the victor. To have once yielded to passion would
have practically destroyed forever his power for good.

Even among the meeker and more reasonable
Carriers, his life was once in danger, because he had
persuaded a woman who was living in sin to put an
end to the scandal. Her guilty partner, a stalwart
man who was no other than the brother of the Stony
Creek chief, but had never been deemed a fit subject for
baptism, followed the priest into the wood and would
probably have fired at him if he had not been accom-
panied by two Indians, who would have thereby been
put in danger of their lives. We cannot but repeat it:
take away all the difficulties arising out of unholy
sexual relations among the natives, and their pastor's
task will be immensely facilitated.

While we are on the chapter of woman among
them, we may as well remark that the new missionary
of the Carriers had to do a great deal in order to lift
up her condition, not only from a religious and moral
standpoint, but also as regards civilization as well,
which second aspect is often the result of the first.
With most Indian tribes, and the Dénés of Northern
British Columbia form no exception to the rule, woman
is not the companion, or equal, of man, and the queen
of the home as with us, but a servant, a drudge and
almost a slave, who will never dare eat with her lord
and master and who, when on the wing, is the perfect
beast of burden of the whole family.

No reader who has not seen them can realize the