CX Vil A GENERAL HISTORY

fingular nature. They believe that, at the firft, the globe was one vaft and
entire ocean, inhabited by no living creature, except a mighty bird,
whofe eyes were fire, whofe glances were lightning, and the clap-
ping of whofe wings were thunder. On his defcent to the ocean, and
touching it, the earth inftantly arofe, and remained on the furface of the
waters. This omnipotent bird then called forth all the variety of ant-
mals from the earth, except the Chepewyans, who were produced
from a dog; and this circumftance occafions their averfion to the flefh
of that animal, as well as the people who eat it. This extraordinary
tradition proceeds to relate, that the great bird, having finifhed his work,
made an arrow, which was to be preferved with great care, and to remain
untouched; but that the Chepewyans were fo devoid of underftand-
ing, as to carry it away; and the facrilege fo enraged the great bird, that
he has never fince appeared.

They have alfo a tradition amongft them, that they originally came
from another country, inhabited by very wicked people, and had tra-
verfeda great lake, which was narrow, fhallow, and full of iflands, where
they had fuffered great mifery, it being always winter, with ice and deep
fnow. At the Copper-Mine River, where they made the firft land, the
ground was covered with copper, over which a body of earth had fince
been colleéted, to the depth of a man’s height. They believe, alfo, that
in ancient times their anceftors lived till their feet were worn out with
walking, and their throats with eating. They defcribe a deluge, when
the waters fpread over the whole earth, except the higheft mountains,

~ on the tops of which they preferved themfelves.

They