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