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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ■•'!•- C^f„y^ (sjL^ ^-va^ ^ T R B N" 615. SUPPLEMENT, M^^^^int^ FUR AND TUB I'UR-TKADE. I. P ^t:* M -"' %^^^ ^^ •'•^- W "VOYXgEUKS DES BOIS,"— CANADIAN TUU-IIUNTERS. At the present season of the year, wlien fiir forms so beau- tiful and agreeable an addition to our customary out-door nttire, a succinct account of the Fur^Trade may be accept- able to our readers. It contains so many lively and exciting details that while reading the various authorities necessary to our brief compilation, we have been tempted to pause, under the impression that the details belonged rather lo fic- tion than to truth. That any set of men, accustomed to the usages of society, more or less civilized, should volun- tarily abandon the comforts dei'ived therefrom, and wander througli wildernesses and -lerile plains, the companions of wild beasts, or of men almost equally wild, does indeed seem s;,ra (i;e. Yet it is not the less true. At this present mo- iaent there are many Englishmen, and a still gi'eater number of Scotchmen, living in the remotest wilds of Nortli Ame- rica; hundreds, nay even thousands of miles distant from any regular town. They are not driven thither by disgi-ace ; they are not influenced by that love of glory and national honour which excite the soldier or the sailor ; they do not, like Humboldt and Bonpland, Audubon and Richardson, contend with hardships for the sake of extending the bounds of scientific knowledge ; they are actuated by the same feelings as the merchant and tlie trader; they work for worldly wealtli. The persons here alluded to are the agents and clerks of the fur-companies, and tlieir office is to collect from the Indian fur-hunters the skins of fur-bearing animals, many of which being killed at a distance of tiiree thousand miles from the regular European towns, tho huntei-s could not forward the skins were it not that tho agents of the companies are stationed at forts or posts, esta- blished at various parts of the interior of the continent. A system of barter is thus set on foot, the European agent giving blankets, guns, and other articles, in exchange for i'urj, the dealings being oftea conducted more varticulai'ly by Vol. XX. a rude class of men, who are half Indian, half Europran* The details of this system are lull of that which, weri they not undeniably true, Vve should tei-m romance ; and it is our purpose to present a view of the subject in this and a suc- ceeding Supplement. But in order to give more complete- ness to our object, we shall rapidly review tho usages of societj', in r ■.pcct of wearing fur-dresses, usages which have given rise to tnc mode of life hinted at above. SECTION I. Use of Furs For. Garments. Varieties of Furs^ Respectino the first use of furs for clothing, Bockmann says : — " Men first ventured on the cruelty of killing ani- mals, in order that they miglit devour them as food, and use tlie skins to shelter tliemselves from the severity of the weather. At tirat these skins were used raw, without any preparation, and many nation' did not till a late period arrive at tho art of rendering them softer and more pliable, durable, and convenient. As long as mankind traded only for necessaries, and paid no attention to ornament, tliey turned the liairy'side towards the body, but as the art of dressing skins was not then undei-stood, the flesh side must liave given to this kind of clothing, when the mannei-s ot tiie people began to be more refined, an appearance wlii<'h could not fail of exciting disgust : to prevent wliich tlio Ozola; inverted the skins, and wore the hair outwards." From the time when, for appearance-sake, tlie hairy side of a furred skin was worn externally, may be dated, tlic use of furs in the sense which we now apply to the term. The custom was not universal, however, even in Imperial Rome, for Juvenal, when speaking of a miserly person, says, — " To guard himself against tlie cold, he does not wear tho costly woolleu clothing of the luxuiious Ilomans,,but tho 615 :i JANUARY, 1842. {oNrp^Hr. \ "5^ '\ f L \> t t' ; i 42 THE SATURDAY MAGAZINE skins of nniinnlii, anil tlicse even inverted, that is to any, witli tlio liairy side tiiint'il inwnnls, witliout caring wlic- tluT tlio i\i)|)eai-iim;o lie iiKi't'eulile or not." 'i'lio hiu'cp, wIkihu wrcciinis furs wore brought from countries far north, from the ' land of darkness,' and regions almost inaccessible, by reason of morasses and ice. The Welsh set a high value on furs as early as the reign of Ilowell Dhu, who began his reign about 940. In the next age furs became the fashion- able niagnilicence of Europe. When Godfrey of Boulogne and his followers ap])cared before the Emperor Alexis Com- nenus, in their way to the Holy Land, he was struck with the liclmess of their fur-dresses." It has been remarked that the advance of luxury in Franco must have been very rajiid since (be time of ("harlemagne, who contented him- self with the plain fur of the otter. Our Henry the First wore furs, yet in his distress was obliged to change them for warm Welsh flannel. Hy the year 1337, the luxury had attained such a iiitch that Edward the Third enacted that all persons who could not spend a hundred pounds a year shoula be absolutely prohibited the use of this species of finery: these furs, from their great expense, must have been brougl t from foreign countries, obtained through the medium of the Italian states, which carried on a great traffic at that time. It is a curious circumstance that the northern parts of Asia then supplied us with almost every valuable kind of fur, whereas at present we send, by means of our possessions in North America, furs, to an immense amount, to China, where this species of luxury is highly valued. The kinds of fur employed in the manufacture of the various articles of dress in use among us, are very numer- ous. We shall first mention that of the ermine, or as it is culled by way of pre-eminence, " .he precious ciinino." This animal is found in the cold regions of Europe and Asia. North America produces an animal, identical with the ermine, but whose fur is greatly inferior in value: this animal is called the sto.at. The fur of the ermine is known by being of a pure white throughout, except the tip of the tttil, wluQli is black; these tails are fastened at intervals iflto the skins ami give the rich spotted opneornneo to the fur as it is worn among us. This is a sinall animal, the wliole length from the nose to the tip of tlie tail being only about fourteen or fifteen inches, while the available part of the fur is not more than ten or twelve inches. The older the animal, the better is the fur it produces. The method of taking the ermine is by snare* or traps, and sometimes they are shot, while running, with blunt aiTows. The sable is another animal much prized in the fur-trade. This is a native of Northern Europe and Siberia. The length of the animal is from eighteen to twenty inches, and the best skins are procured by the Samoieds, and in Yakutsk, Kamtchatka, and Russian Lapland. Some natu- ralists consider the sable to bo merely a variety of tho pine marten. Tho marten is found in North America, as well as in Northern Asia, and the mountains of Kamtschatka ; tho European are more highly prized than the American skins, though many among the latter are rich and of a beautiful dark brown olive colour. The fiery fox, so called fiom its bright red colour, is taken near the north-eastern coast of Asia, and its fur is much valued in that part of tho world. The fur of tho young sea otter is very beautiful. It is of a rich brown colour, fine, soft, and close, and bears a silky gloss : in the older animal it becomes jet black. These animals were first sought for their fu r in the earlv part of the eighteenth century, and were brought to Western Europe fronr the Aleutian and Kurile islands, where they are found in great numbers. The South Shetland Islands were fonncrly resorted to by vast numbers of seals: in 1B21 and 1821, the number of seal skins taken on these islanus alo'te amounted to 320,000. Such, indeed, was the system of 'xtennination that the animal is now almost extinct in thai ((uarter. The skins of various kinds of bear, fox, racoon, badger, lynx, musk rat, rabbit, hare, and suuirrel, are procured in North America. The fur of the blacK fox, sometimes called the silver fox, is considered the most valuable. The red fox also is an article of export, especially to China, where it is used for trimminss, linings, and robes, and ia onumented in spots or waves with the black fur of the paws. The fur of the silver fox ia of a deep lead colour Intermingled with long hairs, white at the to^ forming a lustrous silver grey. The hides of bisons, and o< various kinds of deer, also form part of the fur-trade of North America. One of the most valuable descriptions of fur is that of the beaver, an animal whose sagacity greotly tries the inge- nuity of the hunter. Ity referring to the haturdai/ Maga- y.iiie. Vol. I., p. 181, the reader will find a short account of this animal. The method of taking the beaver in summer is by a process called trapping. In winter the plan followed is thus related by llearne : " Persons who attempt to take beavers in winter, should be thoroughly acquainted with their manner of lite, otherwise they will have endless trouble to effect their purpose, because they have always a number of holes in the banks which serve them as places of retreat when any injury is offered to their liouscs, and in general it is in those holes that they are taken. When the beavei-s which are situated in a small river or creek are to be taken, the Indians sometimes find it necessary to stake the river across, to prevent them from passing ; after which they en- deavour to find out all their holes or jibices of retreat in the banks. This requires much practice and exerience to accomp- lish, and is performed in the following manner : — every man being furnished with an ice chisel, lashes it to the end of a small staff about four or five feet long ; he then walks along the edge of the banks, and keeps knocking his chisel against the ice. Those who are acquainted with that kind of work, well know the sound of the ice when they are opposite to any of the beavers' holes or vaults. As soon as they suspect any, they cut a hole through the ice big enough to admit an old beaver, and in this manner proceed till they have found out all their places of retreat, or at least as many of them as possible. While the principal men are thus employed, some of the understrappers and their women are busy in breaking open the house, which at times is no easy task, for I have frequently known these houses to be five or six feet thick, and one in particular was more than eight feet thick in the crown. When the beavers find that their habitations are invade'' they fly to their holes in the banks for shelter; and on b; l:ig perceived by the Indians, which is easily done by attending to the motion of the water, they block up the entrance with stakes of wood, and then haul the beaver out of his hole, either by hand, if they can reach it, or with a large hook made for that purpose, which is fastened to the inco to tlie fur nml, the whole Ing only aliout ^Ic ])ni't ui° the The ohler the 'J1io inethod of loinetiines they 1 the fiir-trnilo, Sibcriii. Tlie iity inchv.s, and luii'ds, and in J. Stiinu natu- voi'it'ty of the , OS well ns in liachntka; the Lmevican skins, I of a l)cautif\il onlled fiuni its eastern const of rt of tho world, eautiful. It is ud bears a silky black. These lie carlv part of It to Western ids, where they ■rly resorted to the number of ited to 320,000. lation that the r. racoon, badger, ire procured in imetimes called able. The red L'hina, where it I i* onuinientcd paws. The fur irniinvled with >ii9 silver grey. de«r, also form f fur IS that of ■ tries the inge- 'aturdat/ Maga- liort account of ver in summer le plan followed ttcmpt to take cquainted witll endless trouble ways a number daces of retreat and in general iien the beavera ire to be taken, stake the river which ihey en- f retreat in tho ence to accomp- jr ; — every man to the end of a en walks along 13 chisel against t kind of work, opposite to any ey suspect any, to admit an old have found out any of them as jmployed, some usy in breaking isic, for I have : six feet thick, et thick in the habitations are for shelter ; and easily done by ■ block up the the beaver out h it, or with a fastened to the SUPPLEMENT POll JANUARY, 1842. \j end of a long stick. In this kind of hunting, every man has the sole right to all tho beavers caught by him in tho holes or vaults; and as this is n constant rule, each ]iers(m takes earc to mark such as ho discovers, by slicking ui) i\ iinuH'h of a tree, by which ho may know them. All that are caught in the house, are tho jironerty of the person who fiuosts were established at the confluence of the diflFcrcnt large lakes of Canada; by which course the trade was protected, and the improper conduct of the wood-rangers was, in some mea- sure, checked. Besides this, a number of able and respect- able men, who had retired from the army, prosecuted tho trade in person, under their respective licences, with great order and regularity, and extended their enter]irises inland to an astonishing distance. These gentlemen denoiiiinated themselves commanders, and not traders, though they were entitled to both these characters; their general eondnct was such as to secure the respect of the natives, and the obe- dience of the people necessarily emjiloyed in the laborious parts of this undertjiking. Among these military posts, the chief was at Michilimaekinac, situated at the strait of the same name, which joins Lake Huron to Lake jMieliig.iii. It became a great interior mart and ])lnee of dt|iosit. at which establishments were formed by some of the n unl.ir merchants. This, too, was a rendezvous for tho miirniirs des bois, of whom one set were employed in bringing uo.jds up from Montreal, while others were bringing down judtries from the interior. Expeditions for the north, the north- west, and the west, were fitted out at this fort or post ; and tho peltries thence derived wore forwarded to Alontreal. Michilimaekinac, therefore, now filled in part tho oHieo which Montreal had formerly filled. For a long scries of years matteifi proceeded on the 010—2 ^1) 44 THE SATURDAY MAGAZINE. '1\ :,i ! J\ V' I' '■•I 111 V-l ■y»tcm just Bkctclipil fortli. No " fiir-compniiy " existed ill Cmin'Inr ))iit iiidiviiluals eniliurkiMl in the ti'iitlo nt their pleiisuro. Tiiu licii(l-(|iiai-t('rs wito iit tlie junetionH of »omo of the iftunt liikes, from whence repeated expciiitions of a daring cliaructer were niiide into tlej interior. Tilo Conu- dian.s, however, were not free from eompetitor.s. On tlio soutii of tiiem tlic llritisli nicrclmnts of New York entered on the fiehl, nud inveigled tlie Indiiiu hunters, mid eoiirrcura ties boin, into tlieir serviee; while on the north, a more for- iniduhlu competition wiw met with in the IIl'uson's lUy Company, whieh wiis estiihlished hy royal eharter, in l(i7((. As this Company will oeeupy a share of our attention here- after, wo shall here conline our narrutive to the proceedings of the Ciuiudiuu adventurers, SECTION III. TlMPonARY DP.CUNK OF TUU FuU-TllADI'. DV TUI! CRSSIO>f OF CaNVOA to rUK EnOI.ISU.— ESTAUMSHMKNT dl' TIIK NouTii-NVusT Company. — Its Conmitition, — I'aktsi.iis AN» Cli.uks. — SvsTKM OF Uaiitku. — Tui: Canadian VoYAOKi'Ks.— ErrriNO out axi> 1)i;pautihk (>f the Canoes from .Momueai. to tin; Lakes. — Decuaiiuks a.mj 1'oiitain|)any ; and in 17ti7 was finally estab- lished the famous "Noutu-West Companv." The energy with which this company ciirried on its operations, the abi- lity and daring perseverance of its agents, and the wide e.\.- tent of country through which its traffic has been conducted, have combined to give this fur-company greater interest for the general reader than that of any other. Wo pro- pose therefore, to enter somcwhot minutely into the com- mercial machinery by which the afliiirs of the conipony were managed, ami into the general mode of dealing between the Indian fur-hunters and the Canadian fur-traders. By so doing, we shall be enabled to pass over more briefly simi- lar details resjiecting other companies. Sir Alexander Mackenzie was one of the earliest ogents of this com- jiany; ond to his account of the rise and progress of the fur-trade we shall be iudebted for many of the details which follow. The North- West Company was in spirit no more thon an association of commercial ineri agreeing among themselves to cairy on the fur trade, unconnected with any other business, although many of the parties engaged had extensive concerns altogetlier distinct from it. It may be said to have been supported entirely upon credit; for, whether the capital belonged entirely to the proprietor or was borrowed, it equally bore interest, for which the association was annually accountable. The joint-stock of the company consisted of twenty shares, unequally divided among the persons con- cerned. A certain proportion was held by people who managed the business in Canada, and were culled agents of the comjiuny. Their duty was to import the necessary goods from England, store them at Montreal, get them made up into articles acceptable to the Indians, and pack them up, and forward them to the interior, and 8Uj)ply the funds that might be wanting for the outfits; for which they received, independent of the profit on their shares, a commission on the amount of the accounts, which they were obliged to make out annually. Two of them went annually to Fort William, the grand depot of the company on the western margin of Luke Superior, to manage and transact the business there. They finally received the furs, which they i)ackei' up and shipped for England. In fact they formed the monied and commercial partners of the coinpany. The other partners or shareholders were those who dwelt in the interior country, and who managed the business of the concern with the Indians. They were not supposed to be under any obligation to furnish capital or even credit. Some of them, from their long services and influence, held dinible shares, and were allowed to retire from the business at any period of the existing concern with cine of those shares, imming any young man in the company's service to succeed him in the other, subject to the approve.', of the majority of partners. The great success which ultimately SUPPLEMENT FOR JANUARY, 1842. 45 ] r I were inclined iiikiii!;, i'iiruu8- lu'ir niiito mid r wiiitL' (imir- IriijfKliif,' tlu-ir I cluNtMl iij) Uy , tlio olijwt of >])iiii(iii of tlio rcinTHi'iiUitioii cl were |(»'eii- u tlifir crodie firHt WU8 ]iaHt ttti'd ; DO tliitt irtiuH fouiul it iiiion Htociv of li tlic imtivua, rt'lio Imd con- tnd deceit." I tills vicious )iild j)rol)ul)I/ reeariouH as the savages around him ; exposed to the severities of n northern winter, often suffering from a scarcity of food, and sometimes destitute for a long time of both bread and salt. Wlien his ai)j)renticeship had expired, ho received a salary according to lus deserts, varying from eighty to one hundred and sixty jmunds sterlin;;, and was now eligible to the great object of his ambition, a partnership in tho company; though years might yet elapse before he attained to that enviable st4ition, Most of tne clerks were young men of good families, from tho highlands of Scotland, characterized l)y the persjveranco, thrift, and fidelity of their country, and fitted by their native hardihood to encounter the rigorous climate of the north, and to endure tho trials and privations of their lot ; though it must not bo concealed that the con- stitutions of many of thini became impaired by the hardships of the wilderness, and their stomachs injured by occasional famishing, and especially by tho want of bread and salt. Now and then, at an interval of years, they were permitted to come down on a visit to tho establishment of Montreal, to recruit their health, and to have a tas* of civilized life ; and these were brilliant snots in their e.- istence," As the Indians who kill the fur-bearing animals have no use for money, and indeed are unac(iuainted with its value, they exchange tho jjoltry with the white men for such articles as may be useful or agreeable. It is therefore a part of tho fur-traders' business to provide a stock, of such articles, and to convey them into tho interior. At tho perioil of which we are speakinjr, when no " Great Westerns" or " British Queens " crossed tne Atlantic, and when no steamers voyaged on the great lakes of Canada, the traffic was conducted by tho slower method of ship and canoe. One complete interchange of commodities consumed nearly four yeai-s to bring about by tho following steps: — Ist. Sending an order for the goods, from Canada to Lngland ; 2nd, Shipping the goods from London : — .3rd. Their arrival at Montreal: — 4tli. Making them up into useful articles and packages at Montreal :— 6th. Despatching them off to the interior, by canoe : — 0th. Arrival in the Indian country : — 7th. Barter with tho Indians for furs : — 8tli. An-ival of the fui-s at Montreal :— 0th, Shipment of the furs at Mont- real for the London market. Tho articles usually ordered for trading with the Indians were such as the following : — Coarse woollen cloth ; milled blankets of different sizes ; anns and ammunition; tobacco, Oi various kinds; Manchester goods ; linens and coarse sheetings ; thread, lines, and twine ; commoi hardware; cutlery and ironmongery of varied kinds ; orass and copper kettles ; silk and cotton handker- chiefs; hais;, shoes and stockings; calicoes and printed cottons ; together with numberless trinkets of a less useful but often more attractive kind, such as bells, beads, looking- glasses, Ike. The goods being sent to Canada, wore there manufactured or altered into garments, and such other things as were likely to be most acceptable to the Indians. They were then packed in canoes, and consigned to the care of the voi/ageurs or canoe-nicn, a class of persons so remarkable and so unique as to be worthy of a somewhat minute description. Canada, like Sweden and a few other countries, is so in- tersected with lake:i, that a canoe can pass from one extremity of it to the other, with scarcely any interruption. Had this not been the case, tho fur-trado would probably never have attained the importance which has marked it ; for the furs could hai'dly have been conveyed to the sea-ports from the wild interior without the aid of river navigation. The courrexirs des hois, formerly alluded to, were en>ployed partly to row tlie canoes up the rivers, and partly to roam about with tho Indians : but when the traffivi assumed a more regular character, these men were supersed :d by others whose duties were iu«ie definite; tUe Uanaact'vus «u. load being intnisted to European agents nnd Indian hnnters, anil the management of the caiim's being consigned to tlie roi/anciif.i, who were nearly always French CanailiiinH, When the old Kreiich trading-houses were broken up, after the cession of Canada to l'',nglanil, the voyageiirs could but ill adjust themselves to tho habits and usages of the con- iiuerors, but by degrees they entered heartily into tlio service of the North-West Company, to whom' they were ever valuable servants. The dress of these people was a mixture of the eivili/ed and the savage. They wore a eapot or surcoat, made of a blanket, a stripeil cotton shirt, cloth trousers or leathern leggings, moccassins of deer skin, and a belt of variegated worsted, from which were susiiemled a knife, a tobacco pouch, and other iiii])leinents. The language of the roj/aficnrs, though originally French, bet tine a strange mixture of French, Fnglish, and Indian, They seemed to inherit, with their French blood, much of the gaiety and lightness of heart which characterize that nation. They were full of anecdote and song, and ever ready for the dance, Ono of tho most remai'kal)le features in their character was, that instead lif ac<|uiring that hardness uiul grossness of behaviour which men in laborious life arc iipt to ac(|uire, tliey had a fund of civility and complaisance ; they were mutually obliging and accommodating, interchanging kind offices, and yield- ing each other assistance ami comfort in all the vicissi- tudes to which they were so much exposed. They were universally submissive and obedient to their emjiloyers. They were capable of enduring hardships under which most other classes of men would have sunk, and manifested throughout their troubles an irrepressible cheerfulness. While on long and rough expeditions; while coasting lakes or toiling un rivers; while encamping at night on tho borders, and bivouacking in tho open air, — they wore ever the same gay and care-killing band. As boatmen they were wondertully expert and enduring; often rowing vigor- ously from morning till night with scareely a moment's stoppage. Their French chani n.s formed a never-failing accompaniment to the moveme it o." tlie oare ; the stcereman was wont to sing a song, with, a regi'lar burden or chonis in which all the rest joined, keeping time with their oars; and if on any rare occasion the men were observed to flag and droop in spirits, a song would immediately bring tliein back to tlieir wonted joyous tone. "The Canadian waters," says Mr. Washington Irving, who has described these scenes with his usual felicity of language, " are vocai with these little French chansons, that have been echoed from mouth to m^ntli, and transmitted from father to son, from the earliest days of the colony ; and it has a pleasing effect, in a still, golden, summer even- ing, to see a batteau gliding across tho bosom of a lake, and dipping its oars to the ci.dence of these quaint old ditties, or sweeping along, in full chorus, on a bright sunny morning, down the triuisparent current of ono of tho Canadian rivers." The same writer reminds us that these are scenei which are fast passing away, Tho march of mechanical in- vention is driving everything poetical before it. The steam- boats, which are fast ilispelliiig tho wildness and romance of the lakes and rivers, are proving as fatal to tho race of the Canadian voyageurs as they have been to that of the boatmen on the Mississipi, The voyageurs are no longer the lords of the Canadian seas and rivers, and the navigatora of the wilderness. Some of them may still occasionally be seen coasting the lower lakes with their frail barks, and pitching their camps, and lighting their fires upon tho shores ; but their range is fast contracting to those remote waters, and shallow and obstructcl rivers, unvisited by the steam-boat. Occasionally, when some of our adventurous fellow-countrymen have penetrated to the Arctic Ocean, through the wilds of America, the Canadian voyageurs have been hired by them to navigate their canoes through the upper lakes and rivera : such a group we have re- presented in our cut, as sketched by Captain Basil Hall, shortly after tlic'r return from accompanying Captain Franklin on one of his bold and daring expeditions : but an occasional employment like this has no efl'ect on the per- petuation of the race. The voyageurs will in the course of years disappear ; their songs will die away like the echoes they once awakened ; and the whole will bo remembered only as themes for local and romantic associations. fiut whatever now is, or hereafter may be, the condition of the Canadian voyageurs, they were an important and valuable set of men to the North-West Company ; and we have now to follow them up the Canadian rivers and lakes. There were about eleven Itundred of lUese men in the service ^1 J Vl 4G THE SATURDAY MAGAZINF. ♦'1 ! if of tlie Coinpftny; of whom alioiit tliroo hiimlreil nml fifty >v('ri'oiii|iloyi'il t'lir llwi Nuiniiu'r nou^oii, iiigoiriK from Mniit- ival to I'ort Williiim, on l-iil«u .Sii|iiiiior. Tliry wito liiruil ill iMiiiitiviil, iiikI wiTi' iilmi'iit from tlio l»t of Miiy till llio I'liil of Hi'jiti'iiilu'r. I'or tlii» trli> tliii Ruiili'H liiul from ciKl.t liiiiiilri'il to a tlioiiHniKt livivH, (a liviv Mwjf t'c|uiil to soiiu'- uliiit nion- tliiiii iiiiiciKmro KnuliHli,) nnd u Hiiitiili!« t'(|iii|). iiii'iit ; till! fori'iimii aiul Ht«cDmiiii from fo\ir to six liuiiilivil Iivitm; the iiiiililli-mcn iiliout three liiinilreil iivres, with nil ('i|ui|)iiielit of one l)liinket, one Hliirt, n.ulone )mir of tronseiN. Iii(le|ien(leiit of their wiiKi's they were miiinlMineil diirin^f that period ut liio ex|>eiHii of their emiiloyerN, iiliil were iilvo allowed to traffic on their own aeeniint. A |iortion of tliiM niiinher were engaged to iiroeeed far beyond Fort Willinin, and to winter in the interior eoiiiitry ; and tlieHii liad niiieli Jiinher wages than tlio others. The main l»)dy of the voy- iigeiirH wen hired by tlio year, primipally for flio interior tralKc, and were termed " tiorth-iiicii," or " irinlerern,"— the Bummcr voyiigeurH being known im " iiiicru ami rontcm," or by the yet Hliaiiger iiiiinu of " /iirl-viilfni," The iiortii-mcn iiad higher wngeH, and amoro eomplete cfinipment of eloth- ing, than the otIierH, and were generally aeeoinpanied by a formidable array of Indian wiven and ehildrcn, who were maintained at tlie exnenso of the Comiinny. When all the goods, intended for tlio Indian trade, had been carefully lacked at Montreal, a mifficient number of canoes were pnreliased at about three hundred Iivres cneli, and fitted out for tlio exoeditinn. Kiieh canoe carried eight or ten men, with their l)aggage : sixty or seventy jiaeka^es of goods; six hundredweight of biscuits j two hundredweight of pork ; three bushels ot pease; two oil-cloths to cover the poods; gum, bark, and wapntc, to repair the canoo ; a sail, an axe or two, a towing-line, and sundry small articles. " An European," says Sir Alexander Mackenzie, " on seeing one of these slender vessels thus laden, heaped up, and sunk with her gunwale within six inches of the water, would think his fate inevitahlo in such a boat, when he reflected on the nature of her voyage ; but the Cnniidinns are so expert, that few accidents happen." ;\IontreiU stands on the northern bank of the River Saint Lawrence, or, rather, on a small island near the north bank ; and as the waters of the great Canadian l^ke.i are poured into this river, it might bo supposed that the fur- traders proceeded at once through the lakes on their way to the interior. But there is -x natural obstacle to this arrangement. If the reader inspect a map of Canada, ho will jjcrceive that the famed Falls of Niagara are situated between La!:es Erie and Ontario, the water of the fonner having to descend the falls before it can flow into the latter. To ju-oceed up the lakes liy this route ii impracticable, and therefore a paswgo is sought ii- •: direction. The river Ottawa flows into the Saiii -ence not far from Montreal; and this river furnish >venicnt means, by the aid of a contrivance which we slii.ii i)resently describe, for conveying a canoo to tho upi)er lakes. Ejforo tho canoes could proceed very far up the Ottawa, at the commencement of the journey falls and rapids were encountered, which gave a loretaste of what would often occur afterwards. Moore's beautiful " Canadian Boat-song" has for its scene this part of the Ottawa, and for its charac- ters the Canadian voyageurs. Tho canoo-men were occus- tomed to call by the name oi Dfchargc any part of tho river where they could not row against the rapid stream. In such case they were obliged to unload their canoes, and carry ilio goods upon their backs, or, rather, suspended in slings from their heads. likich man's ordinary load was two packages ; and tho whole of them had to go and return a sufficient number of times for the transfer of all the baggage. Tlie canoe itself was towed up by o strong line. At a pinco called Chmidif're, some miles up tlio Ottawa, the river falls more than twenty foot, up which it is obviously impossible to tow a canoe. Such places, where the canoes as well as the goods had to bo carried on the shoulders of tho men, wore called Portages, and occurred frequently in different parts of tho fur-trader's route. The portage at Chaudicre is about six or seven hundred paces in length ; and the rock is so steep and difficult of access, that twelve men used to bo required to lift each canoe out of tho water. The canoe was then carried by six men, two at each end and two in the middle. This transfer was made to a spot where the cur- n nt was sufficiently tranquil to embark again on the river. It seems hardly credible at the present day, but the histo- rians of the f'ur-tradc assure us that no fewer than/orfy of these decharges and portages occur between Montreal and Huron, at every ou2 of which all tho canoes had to be un- loadeil, the gomlit rnrried on mcn*H bnckx, and the cnnoA^ either conveyed in a ximilar manner, or to»ed up agaiiintii ■trong ciirri'iit. It was in the performancu of tlieMi laliorioim and liaraHsing duties that the einliira'ii'e and cliierluiiuHs of the Canadian voyageurs were found CNpecially valualdo ; not a murmur of diH<'c)nti'iit ewaped tliiiii ; but tiny pro- ceeded with light hearts toaccomplisli that which could not Hvoided. Alter entering Lake Jfiiron, the voyageurs coasted along its northern shore, amid iiiniiineral'le siiiall inlands, and at length reached a fort or post at the entrance uf Lake Su](erior. To this fort other goods were oceiisioii- ally forwarded from Montreal by u totally different route; they were conveyed in boats from Montreal to KingMtoii at tho entrance of Ijake Ontario; from theiieo in sliips to Mingara; then overland ten miles, to avoid the I'alls; then again by boats to the entrance of Lake Eriu ; from theiieo by ship through Likes J'jio and Huron; then overland for a short diHfanee to the eiitraiiee of Lake hu|)i'rior; and lastly over this iii>ble lake by ship, i'or tliese purposes tliu company kept two vessels on Lakes Erie and Jliiron, and one on I^ako Superior, of sixty or seventy tons' burden. 'I'his method of conveying goods, ^c, from Montreal to Lake Superior, was found to be a less expensive one than that which wo have sketched above; but at the same timn attended with moro risk, and re((uiriiig a much longer period. The company fhereforo adopted one or ottier method ncuording to the circumstances of the case, SECTION IV. Fort Wiu.iam. — Mkktino or tiiu Thapkiis. — Stvi.i; op LiviN'd. — Inland Joiihnky i'iiom Four Wim.iam. — TuAipiu WITH TiiF. Indians. — Bkavkii TiiArpuns Indian I'lK-Ik'NTiiiis. — Their Caiiiks, — I'liiiiLs of tub Frn-lliNTi:ns. Tiip, company's chief control fort was F'ort William, nt the north-west shore of Lake Sunerior, and ut a s])ot which tl:e voyageurs called the Grand I'ortage, on account of tho long distance which the canoes had to lio carried after they reached this place. This portage is nearly nine miles over; and each voyagcur had to carry eight jiackagcs of such goods and provisions as wore necessary for the interior country. 'I ho company tried both horses and oxen at this duty ; but it was found that from various causes tho animals were not well adapted to the kind of labour and the nature of tho country. Sir Alexander Mackenzie states, that tho men became so inured to this duty, that he has known some of them set off with two packages of ninety pounds each, and return with two others ot the same weight in tho course of six hours, being a distance of eighteen miles over hills and mountains. The arrangements of the company were so conducted, that the " pork-eaters," or " goers and comers " arrived at Fort William, from Montreal, about the time when the "north- men " or " winterers " arrive about the year 1700. " The proprietors, clerks, guides, and interpreters, mess together, to the number ot" sometimes an hundred, at several tables in one large hall ; tho provisions consisting of broad, salt-pork, beef, hams, fish, venison, butter, pease, Indian corn, potatoes, tea, spirits, wine, &c., and plenty of milk, for which purpose several milch cows are constantly kept. The mechanics have rations of such provisions; t)ut tlio canoe-men, both from the north and from Montreal, have no other allowniKo hero or in the voyage than Indian corn and melted fat. The com for this purpose is prepared before it leaves Detroit, SUPPLEMENT TOR JANUARY, 1842. 47 , ftiid tho rnno«4 wimI up iiKitiiintn lit flicsc liilictriiiiiii il ' Mimll islilMclH, I hi' i'ii(iviiic(. of wcro occiiNion- ilillrri'iit roiito: I to JuiijfMliin nt nrti ill NliipH to the rnlj.s; thm iu ; fmm liiciico ii'ii iivimIuikI for Hiipniop; ,111(1 M' piirpoKi's tho iiikI iliiniii, iiiiil .V tons' hiinlcii, nil Aloiitrni! to )l'ilHivC OIK' thiiii t tlw wiiuo limn I much loiijicr ono or other II! ClIHO. :iis. — Style op T Wit.MAM TllAITHll.s , -I'jJIllI.S OF TUB rt William, nt It a sjiot wliicli ncfount of the M'icd after they line miles over; ■kaifcs of such '>r tho interior nives a, ted liy these leir liricf hut ich Ills narra- •ietoi-s, clerks, c number of 10 large hall ; . beef, hams, lotntoes, tea, lich purpose 10 mechanics )o-nicn, both ler allownnco melted fat. nvcs Detroit, by boiiintf it in a Htrono: alkali which takes off the outer lii^k ; il U then well witched, and carefullv liried upon iitiUi'S when it is fit lor use, Onei^uarl of this is bdiled for two hours over a luodcnilu fiiv, in a k"'1"» "'' water; to whli'li, wlii'ii il has ImmIimI a Nlioit time, are addeil two oillK'i'S of iiielled Niiet ; this caunrs Iho I'oni to Hplil, and ill the time mi'ulioiieil, makes a pretty thick piidiling. If to this is aildeil a little salt (liul not before it is boiled, ns it Would iiiteniipt the opeialioii,) it makes an wholesome palatable looil, ami easy of di){vstioii. This ipiaiitity is fully tiiilbeient lor a man's hulisisteiiee, during twenty-four houis; though it is not sulhcieiitly hejirteiiing to sustain the strenxtli necessary for u state of active labour." Such was tho himple and frugal I'uro on whivli thu Cunudiuu vi.yageura cllielly subsisted. Leaving the " poik-eatcrs" to return to Afontreal with tho cargo of furs, we will i'ollow thu "northmen" into tho interior country. The traffic from Fort William north- >vard was carried on in a manner Homuwhat ditferent from that hitherto described. The canocH brought from Montreal were too largo to be navigated in thu cliain of small lakes and rivers which extend north-west of Lake Superior; and theiel'oru others about half the size were procured from tho natives, and navigated by four, live, or six men, according to tho distance wliicli they had to traverse, 'i'hese small canoes carried, on an average, a lading of about thirty-live packages; of which about two-thirds contjiineil goods to bu bartered with the Indians for furs; and one-tliird con- tained provisions, stores, and baggage. In each of these canoes was a foreman and a steersman ; the ono to be always on tho look-out, and to direct the passage of tho canoe; tho other to guide tho helm. The foreman had tlie command of the canoe, mid was obeved in all his directions by the nii! 48 TMi: SATUUDA\ MAlJAZINIl. N '•1 1 I foHHcd till' Homnn Calliolir nll^jinn, yit it wiih mixnl dccu- •liiniill.V \vitl> Hdiiic III' tlu ii' aiu'ii'iit Nii|it'rHlitiiiii>i ; itinl tluy ri'liiiiii'il niiu'li i>t till' liiiliikii li<'ll( r.ii'li otln r; lu'iict" ariii' Mttrr ni'i'iu's of hll'it'i' ami ol'ti'll of I)Ii)imIsIii'i|. 'I'liry an', llllilrl' hlirll ili-- I'liiiiitaiu'i'M, mit sliiw in nilililii'^' cfli ntlK'r'.i liii.inN wlicii Uii|iriiti'rti'il ; ami lii'iioi' has anwii :> hinnular iiuhIi' nl" I'lm- ('I'.iliiii'Ut, wiii'ii iiiU! |>arl,v lit' lliiliaii.i is I'liiiril tn liavf a IMiriiiiii iiftlii'ir .proiii'i'ty in u t-imt lialilo to lir visitrd \>y i\ lostile |iai'tv. A vi'i'i'iitacli' caili'd a rar/ic is Cornu'il, hc ili'siniiati'il liy tliu I'lrlv Ki'i'iirli col.iniHtM, rrom llu' I'li'iuii vi'i'li (•(«■/(/';•," to roiii'i'al;" alllloiiuli llii' liii'lliod itsi'lt' wi'ji iii'olialily kiiuwii tu iho Aliorijfliicii bct'oru the arriviil ui' tlio J''l'i'IU'll. 'I'lio niodo of foiiNtnii'tiiifl; flii'so caclu's ilhistrutcs lu n cuvioiis uiaiiiu'i' till' iiativi! ciiiiiiiiiK ol' tlio liidiann. 'I'lii' tii'Mt Ciiro in to si'i'k nut a iirii|ur situation, which is ffriir- rally hhuil' dry, low liank ol clay, on the iiiai'ifin of a wi'.tcr- coiiMi', Ah Hoon as tlio jivccisi' H|iot is jiitchcd upon, lilaii- lo'ts, Maddh'-clotlH, and other covciiiiK!!, arc Hjircail over the Hurniuiidin); k''"'*^'""' hushes, to ju'cvciit foot-'.rackt), oi' any other derangements ; nml as few hands as possilile are eni- jd.ned. A circle of ahout two feet in iliaineter is then cut m the sod, which is carefully removed, with the liMwe hoII iniMicdiately liciieath it, uiul laid asiile in a iilace where it will he safe from anvthiiif,' that will clmiijje its aii|iiaraiice. 1'he uncovered area is then ihii,' periieiidicularly to tlie depth (if ahout three feet, lieipff made gradually wider as it ih'hceiicis, till a conical chamher six or s;'ven feet deep is forined. The whole of the earth displaced .liy this process, luing of a dilfereiit colour from that on tliu surface, is handed up in a vessel, ami heaped into a skin or cloth, in which it is con- veyed to the stream, and thrown into the midst of the cur- rent, that it may he entirely carried olf. Should the cache not lie formed in the vicinity of a stream, the earth thrown lip is carried to n disttmoe, and Hcattcrud in such u lunnner us not to leave the minutest trace The cave, or cache, heiuf; formed, it! is well lined with dry j{vnss, bark, sticks, and poles, and occasionullv a dried hiile. The property intended to ho hidden is then laid in, after liaving hecn vt'ell aired : a hide is sjirond over it, and dried grass, brush, and btones, thrown in, and trampled down until the pit in filled to ilio top. The loose soil, which had been put aside, is then liroiitrht, and rammed down firmly, to prevent its siiik- iiiu; : ami the surface is sprinkled with water, to destroy the Hient, lest the wolves and bears should be attracted to the jiiaco, and root up the concealed treasure. When the neck of the cache is nearlv level with tliu surroundin;,' surface, I Ihi' s 111 i I a^aiii fitted in with the iiliiiost rxartnc'H, rind any i hii^l'.i's, htalLs, or htoiiis, III, it may have nriuiiiaily Imiii I aliu'it the MtiotH are restiiied to tlieir foimrr plans. 'J'hu I liliiMki'ls and other coM'riii;{H are then tenioveil Ironi the siii- I rounding lurliage ; all tracks are obliterated : the grass is gently raist'il by the hand to its natural position ; and tlio I minutest chip or straw is s(rii|iiilously gleaned iiii and thrown ' into the sticam. After all is done, the place is abaiidoiiid I lor the night, ami, if 'dl be light next moriiiiig, is imt visitecl again tintil time be a lueev-ity fur reopeiiinir the I cache, p'oiir ''U'li are siillieieiit in this way to conceal the ainuunt oftline tons' \\eiglit of |>i'iivisioiis or iiiercbamiiNe, ill the course of two days. Such are the extreme precautions which these people take, to preserve their projit-rty i'lolil depredation in a laud where the laws and usages uf civili.Hcil life are nnkiiown. The privations and trials to wlilcli the trappers and hunters are exposed diiriii',' their wanderings, arc by no meaim con- lined to hiingcr, cold, and fatigue; they are fr('i|iieiitly attacked by grizzly bears, whose inormoi'is bulk, and tena- city of life, make thin forniidable ant.nionists. As aii example of this, we will iiimte a passjige from Mr, Irving, in which he details an adventure to which a hunter or trajiiicr, named Cannon, was exposed in 'ho heart of America. Cannon had just hail the good foiliine to kill a biiU'ali', and as ho was at a considerable distance from liiseani|i, he cut out the tongue and some of the choice bits, made tlieiii into u parcel, and, slinging tin in on his shoulders by a slraji ]iassed round his forehead, as the voyageurs carry jiackages of goods, set out on his way to tliu camp. " Jii jiassiiii; through a narrow ravine, ho lieard a noise liehind him, and looking round, iKheld, to his dismay, n grizzly hear in full pursuit, ai.parently attracted by the scent of the meat. Cannon had heard so much of the invnlncrability of tliij tremeniliiiis animal that he never attempted to tire, but, sli|iliiii,',' the strip from his lorehcail, let go the bullalo iiieiit and ran for his lile. 'J'bo bear il'd Hot stop to rigalo himself with the game, but kept on after the hunter. Ilo litui nearly overtaken liini. when Ciiunon r. ached a tree, and throwing down bis rille, .aiii| tliniwn ii'i' It iiliaiiiloiii'il niiiriiiii^r, is iiiit r ri''i)|ii'niii|r tliu { til C'cillfl'lli tlltf ()!• liuivlmiiiliw, iriiu' |iri'('mitiiiiiii !• |>n)|*ity ('n)in iigi's of civillwil pcrsdiiilliiinti'i'g y no nu'iiim cdm- aiv lici|ncntly l>ull<, mill Icna- I'lnists. Ah itii i'lni Mr. Iiviiii;, I'll It liiintcr Hi- ll 'lio lii'iii-t of kill n liiifriilo, III! llisi'llllljl, III* ill!*, iimili' tliiiii ilili'i'i hy u stiaji cmry luicliiigri I. _" Jll I'llSsill" ii'liinil him, ami y\y iH'ar ill full t of the iiiiat. raliility of tlilj ■ii', in tlic tni>, licar \va.sfi;oiu', 1 nji liiN L'un, amp, without ?^ TIC a <^*v^ *^^ u ^ N9 674. SUPPLKMICNT, T)EC|.:M13E11. 1S42. {oJ;TkLv. F U U. ANT) Til i: F V H-T U A I) V.. W. AWEWCATf FUR COMPANY'S lACTORV, LAKE SUPtUlOU. At tho commoticompnt of tho iiiTSonl 3'cnr, when frosts and snow I'tiiniiuli'd usof tho warmth and comfort of fur clothing, wo Rftvo n lirii'f account of the rise, proj;rcss, and general manageinent of the Canadian fur-trade, and at the same time iiromised to recur ai;ain to the suhject. No time can per- liaps be more approjiriate for so doing than the present, ami we shall therefore again direct the reader's attention to the wilds of America. In the former Supplement, we found it convenient to confine our details almost wholly to those I'uterprises, whicii were set on foot by the Canadians ; from the time when tho " courreurs des hois" traded with tho Jnilians, down to the flourishing career of the " North- West Company." We shall now notice the jirocei'dings of Com- ])anies whoso chief depots were respectively nortliward and southward of tho above; viz., the "Hudson's Bay Com- TANY," and three or four wliich have been established in the United States. Section L Rise op the Hudson's Bay Company. — Kxpi.ori\o Expe- niTioNs, — IIeaune's Journey to the NonTiiEiiN Ocean. — Deku-iiuntino in the Ameuican Wii.ns. — Co.ntests between tiie North-West and Hudson's Bay C'ompa- niivS. — Junction of the two Companies. — Discoveries OF Messrs. Dease and Simpson. A glance ot a map of North America will show the relative positions of Hudson's Bay and the Canadian Lakes. The Bay lies considerably northward of tho whole of tho lakes, nnd is entered from the Atlantic, by way of Hudson's Straits, nortliward of Labrador. It was named after tho English navigator who discovered it, and was explored by different jiersons, in the vain hope of discovering a ])ass.'ige thence to the Pacific Ocean. But although these projects were un- Bucccasful, the accounts brought home regarding the rich Vol. XXI. furs of these regions, excited tho attention of onoGroaselelg, an enterpriaing individual, who undertook a voj-n^'e to sur- vey the country, and hiid before the French Governiiient a proposal for a comnu'rcial hettleiiient upon the coast. 'I'lui ministry however rejected it as visionary ; and Grosse'.. i^, having obtained an introduction to Mr. INIoutagu the English resident at Paris, was introduced to Prince Uiipei't, who, struck by tho probable advantages of tho jirojtct, eagerly Iiatronized it. By his interest with Charles the Second, :^rince Rupert obtained the grant of n ship commanded by Captain Zaclmriali Gilhiin, who sailed with Grosseleig in KiOH ; and penetrating to the extreme southern point of Hudson's Bay, erected Fort Choi'les on tho bank ot Rupert river. In the succeeding year Prince Rupert, with seventeen other persons, were incorporated into a Company, ami ob- tained an exclusive right to establish settlements and carry on trade in Hudson's Bay. Their charter recites, that these adventurers, having at their own great cost undertaken an expedition to Hudson's Buy, in order to discover a new juis- sage into the South Sea, and to find a trade for furs, mine- rals, and other commodities, and having made such disco- veries OS cncourpged them to proceed in their design, his Majesty granted to them and their heirs, under the name of "the tiovernor and Comjiany of Adventurers trading into Hudson's Bay," the power of holding and alienating liinds, and tho sole'right of trade in Hudson's Strait, and tho territories upon its coasts. They were aiithori/.i'd to tit out ships of war, to erect forts, make reprisals, and send homo all English subjects entering the bay wit'iout their license, and to declare war and make |)enee with any ]irince or peo])le not Christian. In the infancy of the e>taiilish- ment, these powers were deemed more iioiiiiiial than real, but they gradually rendered the Comjiany very j)owerl'ul. Experience has shown that the obtaining of furs has been G74 i I I \\ J p.')'? Tim SATURDAY MAGAZINE. 11 'li 11. innin, nnd nlniost tlio solo, sourro of tlio Conipniiy's Ktri'iintii; Imt it wiih nt first i'X|H'(tc(l tliiit u valimlili' (iro- |i('il.v in mines, ntul other sources of wniltli, might iut'uo froui lliu exertions of the ugents of tlie Coiumiiy. Hence tliiTe were not only numerous "factories^' "forts," or trnilini,' nosts estahiished in tlie Indian country westward and siiutliward of Hudson's Bay, l)Ut expeditions were des- iiatclied into remoter refrions, to ascertain tlie real nature of the country. These ex])editions, wliil" they have furnished consplcvums incidents in the Coinpany'u history, have at the name time most jiowerfiilly aided in the exploration of the northern coasts of America, nnd in the settlement of many important problems relating to tho " north-west j)assaj(o." A search foi copper was one of tho earliest procecdinps of the Company, independent of their fur-trading. Tho natives who range over the large tract of land lying north-west of Hudson's Bay, having repeatedly hroughl to the''"ompany'3 factories sinniiles of '.-oiiper, many of the Conijmi.^ s servants j'onjectured tnat tho copper was found not far from their settlements; and as tho Indians stated that the mines were not verv distant from a large liver, it was generally siip- ])osed that this river must empty itself into Hudson s Bay. At length in the year 171!), an expedition, consisting of two vessi'ls under tho command of Jlr. Knight, was sent out from England, with orders to explore Hudson's Bay with a view to discover this 8upi)osed river, or any mineral riches Avliich might fall in their way. The feeling with which the undertaking was entered on, may he uulgod from the fact that Knight tooK with him some large iron-hound chedts to hold fli'hl-dust, and other valuable commodities. Poor Knight and his companions were lost, by shipwreck or otherwise, on the coast ; but it was not until nearly forty years afterwards, that the Company gained any intimation ot the shii)s, or the fate of the crew, by seeing on a desolate shore guns,iujvils, cables, anchors, &c., belonging to the missing ships, together with vestiges of a house built by the crews on shore. The Com- pany sent a ship annually to tho northern part of Hudson's Bay, to traffic with tho natives for furs, to niiike observations on the surrounding country, and to search for their lost com- panions. In 1742, nnd again in 1746, expeditions were fitted out l)y the Company, for exploring tho north-west rofjions, having for one olyectthe discovery of a passage into the Pa- tilic ; but without success. At Icngtli in 1708 an event occurred which led to the daring expedition of Samuid Hearne. Somo Indians who came to trade at Prince Wil- liam's Fort, l)rouglit further accounts of a "graml river," as it was calUnl, and also several pieces of copper, as siuuples of the ))roiluce of a mine near it. Tliis induced the Company to send out an enterprising man, to trace the river to its mouth, when be had once cncounteroil it in any part of its course, to make a chart of the district he might walk tliruugh, and to ol)servo well the nature of the country, llearnc wius chosen for this purjioso, as being a man of great liar.lihood and siigacity, Bred in tlie employment of the Company, and possessed of a sufticicnt kuuwledge of tho t'leuients of science (o understand the general character of tho country and its features. Hearne set off from Hudson's Bay on the fith November, 17()0, accompanied by two Knirlishinen and ten In;!:.ms. Jle was provided with ammunition for two years, some necessary iron instruments, a few knives, tobacco, and other useful articles. His wardrobe was simple enough; con- histiiig of the clothes he wore, one spare coat, as much cloth as would inak-" two or three pairs of Indian stockings, and a bbuikel t'lir liis lied. No sooner, however, did the expedi- tion penetrate a little way into the rouiitry, than the Indians proved treaclierous and left him, thus obliging him to find his Wiiv back again to the fort. Alter making new and more careful crrangcments, Hearne set off again with a new jiarty in February of the following year, 1770, and made a second journey, which proved more dis;istrous than the fir.st. He was jdundered of everything by some Indians whom he m t; and alter enduring almost incredible hardships, he returned once more to the fort in Novemlier, after an absence of eight months. Nothi.ig daunted by wh it he had undergone, he again offered his services; and on the 7th of Decemlier set off on that expe- dition whidi, from the light it threw on the geography of the northern parts of America, has gained for liiin so much ■enown, and which took hiin away from the dwellings of civilized man for more than eighteen months. We feel it necessary, in detailing the proceedings of the Hudson's Bay Company, to notice an enterprise so remarkable as this; hut tlie adventures 'partake too mneli of tho cimrftcter of Arctic exploration to demand morothonn slight notice here. At the earnest recommendation of an Indian chief, Ilearno, singular as it may oppeor, consented that soveral Indian women sliould he of the iiarty : and he had no <;nuso to regret this arrangement. 'I'lie reasons which tho chii;f gave for this suggestion wero these;—" In an expedition of this kind, when all the men are so heavily laden, that they can neither hunt nor travel to any considerable distance, in case they meet with snccoss in hunting, who is to carry the produce of their hbour? Women were made for labour; one of them can carry or haul as much as two men can do. They also pitch our tents, make and mend onr clotliing, nnd in fact there is no such thing as travelling any consider- able distance, or for any length of time, in this country without them ; and yet, though they do everything, they are maintained at a trifling expense ; for, as they always act the cook, the very licking of their fingers in scarce time is suificiont for their subsistence." As deer-skins form part of the traffic of the fur-lnintcra and dealers, and the flesh furnishes a welcome food in tho wilds of these regions, we may fittingly notice the mode adopted by the Indians who accompanied Hearne, to kill a number of deer by one stratagem, and which is generally followed by the Indians. Their mode of accomplishing this is to select a well-freriuented deer-path, and enclose with a strong fence of twisted trees and brushwood a space a mile or more in circumference. The entrance of this inclosure or pound is not more than a common gate, and its interior is crowded with innumerable small hedges, in the ojienings of which ^re fixed snares of strong well-twisted thongs. One end is generally fastened to a growing tree ; and as all the wood and jungle within the enclosure is left stand- ing, it forms a complete labyrinth. On each side of the entrance, a line of small trees, set up in the snow fifteen or twenty yards opart, form two sides of an acute angle, widening giwlunlly from the entrance, from which they sometimes extend two or three miles. Between these rows of brush-wood rung the jioth frequented by the deer. When all things are prepared, the Indians take their station on somo eminence, commanding a prospect of this path, and the moment any detr are seen going tnat way, the whole encampment, men, women, and children, steal under cover of the wood till they get behind them. They then show themselves in the open ground, nnd drawing up in the form of a crescent, advance shouting. The deer, finding them- selves pursued, and at the sjune time, imagining the rows of bushy poles to be people stationed to prevent their passing on either side, run straight forward till they get into tho ])ound. The Indians instantly close in, block up the en- trance, nnd whilst the women and childven run round the outside to prevent the deer from breaking, or leaping the the fence, the men enter with their spears and bows, nnd siiecdily despatch such as are caught in the snares or are run- ning loose. Buffaloes are entrapped in a way almost pre- cisely similar, as is relatel by Sir Jidin Franklin in the narrative of his journey to the Arctic Ocean thiougU tho fur-hunting regions. With respect to the result of Heame's joumev, we may state that he reached the " Coppermine River,' respecting which so much had been said, on the 14th of July, after about seven months' foot travelling, diversified by all those incidents which such a mode of travelling, and in such a country, are likely to produce. He first saw the river near its mouth, and ascertained the important fact that the stream empties itself into an ocean, the existence of which, northward of America, had never before been clearly proved. As to the much vaunted copper-mines, Hearne found that tliov were nothing more than chaotic masses of rock and gravel, rent by an earthquake or some other convulsion into numerous fissures, exhibiting here and there very sjiaring sjiecimens of copper-ore, wholly unworthy of the trouble of collection, even in a more favoumble locality. While these enterjirises were going on on the part of the Comjiany's agents, tho traffic in furs continued uninter- ruptedly, though fluctuating in extent according to circum- stances. The mode of traffic was nearly analogous to that pursued by the " North- West Company," described in the last paper. The Hudson's Bay Company had a chief station in the western shore of the bay, at which the affairs with the Company in London were managed ; and from this sta- tion as a centre, others were gradually established to the west, north-west, and south-west of it. Many of these were situated at a vast distance from the parent station, and were inhabited by a few agents who carried on barter with tho HliPrLEMENT FOR DECEMBER, 1842. 2,".!) if the clinractpr of > aliglitnotivu luTc, limi chief, Hruriiu, int sevorul Tiulinn I Imd IV) cniiHu ti) lich the chief niivo cxpeditiun uf this Ion, thut the/ can Ic od a space a milo of this inclosuie ,e, and its interior >s, in the o]>enings ill-twisted thongs, ving tree; and an jsure is left stand- 1 each side of the the snow fifteen f an acute ancle, from which they etwcen these rows ed by the deer. I take their station t of this path, and t way, tne whole steal under cover TJiey then show ng up in the form er, finding tliem- ^ining the I'ows of ent their passing they get into the block up the en- m run round the g, or leaping the rs and bows, and snares or are run- I way almost pre- I Franklin in tho )cean through the iouiTicy, we may iliver, respecting 4th of July, after fified by all those ng, and in such a law the river near lit fact that the ibtence of which, en clearly proved, learne found that ISSC9 of rock and ir convulsion into liere very sparing r of the trouble of ity. on the part of tho )ntinued unintcr- ordingto circum- analogous to that described in the lad a chief station h the alfaii's with md from this sta- stablished to tho lany of these were , station, and were n barter with the Indians, giving them for their furs sue); nrticlis as won; most likely to bu serviceable to tlic rude and simple natives. The company did not extend their operntions to tho Canadian regions until alter a long period. Hut by degrees tliey caiiio in contact with tho " voyageuw" and " courreurs des bris," wlio hud their grand depot at tho head of Lake Superi(n*; and then ensued iiuicli contest and rivalry be- tween them. The company established several forts, such as P"ihceof Wales's Fort, Churchill Fort, Fort Nelson, and Fort Albany, most of which were on tho soiitheni and west- ern shores of Hudson's Bay, and which were garrisoned by n sufficient number of men for ordinary puriioses; but ill May, 17(12, the French Canadians took aiul destroyed these torts and settlements, which the company consiilered us a loss eiiual to half u million sterling. Notwith- standing this misfortune, a very steady and lucrative business was carried on; but still there continued to be ail irregular trade etfected by the Canadians, in the territory which (nominally at least) belonged to the company. At length the "North-West Company" was established, by which the supremacy of tho older company was seriously interfereil with. Wo have in the former paper described the remarkable and energetic system followed by the infant com- pony, and wo may now state, that this system had tho ett'ect of driving the otlier company f.'om many of their trading posts. The " North- Westers," as they were generally called, at first established posts adjacent to most of those owned by tho rival company in the interior country, and afterwards secured some of these posts wholly to tbemselvea by dint of superior energy and perseverance. By the year 1800, the North-W'sters had numerous trading esta- blishments at Athabasca, Peoce River, the Slave Lake, New Caledonia, St. Columbia, Ike, to none of which did the Hudson's Bay Company attempt to follow them. By these means tho North- West Com|)any became undisputel()ie this space of two hiinilred miles became a project of miicli intcresi ; nml it was successfully etfected in 1H;17, by Messrs. Dease ami Simpson, two enterprising individuals in the service of, ajid fitted out for this expedition by, the Hudson's Bay ('onipany. Ill the summer of the following year, the Siinie geiiiKineii made an endeavour to connect the discoveries of I'raiikliii with those in a more eastern jiositioii ; ami succeeded iii discovering a considerable extent of sea and sea-coa^t. In llt,S!>, the siune two enterprising men succeeded in eH'cctiiig that which has been aimed at for three centuriof, viz., showing that a passage exists fiMiu the Alluntic to the Pacific, northward of America. Tliey were able to coniiecr, the discoveries of Franklin with tliose of Back, wiiiili had already rendered pretty certain the route eastward of Hack's Iliver. It is true that tlieexisteiice of open sea from Back's River to the Atlantic has not been actually proved ; liut those who know the subject best have now no doulit on the motter; and Messrs. .Siiiipsou and Dease, following out the exploration of Beechey and Franklin, have eleaiiy sliown that there is open sea, (that is, an oci'.in, however niiicii blocked U]) with ice) from Mack's Iliver to the I'aeilic. It is right that these • xjieditions should be mentioned here; for they have been planned by, and executed at tlio expense of, the Hudson's Bay Company, by whom I be results have been communicated to the Uoyal Geogra|ihieal Society. It is pleasant to sec a commercial body thus enu- tributing to the advancement of science, a eoiii^o whieh must win for tho company a considerable share of respect. Section II. Rise of the Fcr-Trade i.s the PACirir.— Cook's Voy- A(ii;s. — PulVATH AUVENTLRES. RlSSIAN- A.MKKKAN Fl II ■ CoMl'AXV. OVERl.ANU JoUUNEVS Ol' CaI'TAIN CaUVDII AXU SlU Ai.EXAXUKIl MaCKEXZIE. CaI'XAIX GuAV 1)1S- covERs THE Colombia Riveu. We have now arrived at that part of our subject whei'o it becomes necessary to direct our attention towinls a somewhat difterent part of the North Anieriean continent. It will be remembered that in our former article we con- fined our attention to tho "North- West Company," making that the groundwork for a general description of the mode of conducting tho traffic between the Europeans and tho native Indians. In the present paper we have detailed the more prominent points in the history of the Hudson's Bay Company. But wo have next to state that si'veral other companies have been at different times establislied, having for their scene of action a portion of America generally southward of that to which our notice has been hitherto directed. To understand some of the changes in these companies it will be desirable to bear i.i mind these two historical facts : that Canada, which fornieily belonged to the Fi-encli, was transferred to the F.nglisli in 17<>;i ; and that the United States, which formerly belonged to F.ngland, became independent in 177". During Captain Cook s last voyage to the Pacific, ho onened a new source of wealth to future navigators, by trading for valuable furs on the r.ovth-west coast of Americii. The first vessel which engaged in ibis new branch of trade was equipped by some geutlcmen in Uhina. It was a brig o» (iO tons burden and navigated by 20 men, commanded by Captain James Ilanna. .She arrived at Nootka Sound, on the American coast, in August, 17(i">. Soon after her arrival, the natives, whom Captain Cook had left unac(|uainted with the use of fire-arms, tempted probably by the diniinutivo size of the vessel, and the small number of the crew, attempted to board her in open day ; but they were rei)ulsed. Captain llanna's conduct on this occasion apijcars to have been very judicious ; he cured such of the Indiana as were wounded ; an unreserved conHdeiice took place ; they traded fairly and peacubly ; and after having procuiecl a valnal)le cargo of furs, Captain Ilanna departed liomewurd a month or two afterwards. Ill the following year, 1706, Ilanna s.iiled agoin to (i74— a I 4 I .'■J I '< ! ■'. « 6C0 THE SATURDAY MAGAZtNE. ^ m f. Nootkft Sounil, nrriv'inpf there in tlio month of August. lie tiiiced the coast from tneiico as far as 6.T nortli latitude, and carried on a lucrative trade with the natives, principally for sea- otter skins. The same year another vessel, commanded by Captain Peters, started from Macao on a similar enterprise ; but it was never afterwards heard of, and is si -nosed to have been lost. In India, too, the spirit of sj- tulation became similarly excited. Two coppered vessels were fitted out at Bombay, in 1780, under the direction of Mr. Stranse, who was himself a principal owner. They pro- ceeded in company from the Malabar coast to Datavia; passed throujjh the Straits of Macassar, where one of the vessels ran upon a reef, and was obliged to haul ashore at Borni'O for renairs. From thence thev steered eastward of the I'alaos Islands, and arrived at Nootka at the end of June. From Nootka, where they left the Surgeon's Mate to loam the language, and to collect skins by the time of their intended return, they proceeded to explore the adja- cent parts of the coast ; but it does not appear that the exi)eiUtion succeeded in advancing the fur-trade to any great extent. Without noticing the proceedings of an expedition des- patched from Bengal, and another from Osteud, wo may briefly sketch the voyage of the A'inff George and the Queen Charlotte, commanded by Coptains Portlock and Dixon. These vessels were fitted out hy a society of gentlemen in JCngland, who obtained a privilege to trade to the north- west coast of America. These vessels sailed from England in the beginning of September, 1705, touched at the Falk- land Islands, and the Sandwich Islands, and arrived at Cook's River, on the American coast, in the month of August. From thence, after collecting a few fui-s, they steered, at the end of September, to Prince William's Sound, intending to winter there ; but they were forced by the weather to winter in some other place. The storms and bad weather accompanied them till they arrived oft" Nootka Sound; when they were so near the shore that a canoe came off to tliem ; but though thus near accomplishing their Iiui-pose, a fresh storm came on, and obliged them finally to )ear away to the Sandwich Islands, where they remained during the winter. On the following year thev returned to the coast, ond made numerous •geographical discoveries. They discovered Queen Charlotte's Islands, ot a jiart of the coast supposed to be not more than eight hundred miles distant from the westernmost station of the Hudson's Bay Company. The two ships remained in those parts till they Imd collected full cargoes of valuable furs, which they sold in China. Such was the excitement toroduced by the profits accru- ing from the trade thus lain open, that by the year 1702, no fewer than twenty-one vessels, under different fiags, were plying along the north-west coast of America, and trading with the natives. The traffic was a remarkable one ; for nlmost the only kind of fur sought for was that of the sea- otter, and almost the only customers the Chinese, who gave such enormous prices as to attract all the dealers thither. The greater part of these trading ships were American, and owned by Boston merchants. I'hey generally remained on the coast and about the adjacent seas for two years, carrying on fts wandering and adventurous a commerce on the water, as did the traders and the " trappers" on land. Their trade extended along the whole coast, from California to the high northern latitudes. They would run in near shore, anchor, and wait for the natives to come off in their canoes with peltries, (undressed furs.) When the trade was exhausted at one place, they would weigh anchor and set off to another. In this way they would pass the summer; and when autumn came on they were accustomed to depart to the Sandwich Islands, and winter in some friendly ond plenti- ful harbour. In the following year they would resume their summer trade, commencing at California and proceed- ing nortii ; and, having in the course of two seasons collected a sufficient cargo of peltries, would make the best of their way to China. 'The people, however, who entered most effectively and extensively into the fur-trade of the Pacific were the .Russians. Considerable success having attended certain '/lussian voyages to the Aleutian Islands, and along the north- western shore of North America, in the middle of the last century, two Russian mercantile houses, of the names of Schelikoff and Galikoff, projected, in 1785, the formation of a regular company, to encourage the fur-trade in those rpgions, imder the denomination of the " Russian- American Fur (Company ." Schelikoff himself, the head of one of the estabIisbmentS| was the commander of all their early expe- ditions. They erected forts for the protection of a chaia of factories on most of the islands, and induced a number of respectable merchants to join in their extensive and lucra- tive adventures at the expense of the natives, from whom they did not fail to take every opportunity of wresting tli« staple produce of the district. Munv cruelties became by degrees charged against them : and tlie Emperor Paul was uj>on the eve of suppressing the asssociation altogether ; when the company jiledged itself, through its active agent M. von Rcsanoff, to adopt more regular proceedings. Ii« 1799 it was formally established with considerable privi- leges, and incorporated with a capital of two hundred and sixty thousand pounds sterling. The sovereignty of ihat part of the American continent along the coast of which the posts had been established was claimed by the Russian Crown, on the plea that the land had been discovered and occupied by its subjects. As China was the grand mart for the furs collected in these quarters, the Russians had tlio advantage over their competitors in the trade. The latter had to take their peltries to Cantoii, which, however, was a mere receiving mart, from whence they had to be dis- tributed over the interior of the empire and sent to the northern parts, where there was the chief consump- tion. The Russians, on the contrary, carried their furs by a shorter voyage directly to the nor'.hem parts of tho Cinncse Empire ; thus being able to sell them to the Chinese at a cheaper price by saving the expense of ean'iagc. As we shall not, perhaps, have occasion again to refer to the Russian- American Fur Company, we may make a few more observations thereon 'in this part of our subject. The company obtained, successsively, the patronage of the Empe- rors A lexcnder and Nicholas ; and the state minister, Roman- zoff, introduced many useful changes in its constitution. The condition of the fur-collectors of the company is said, how- ever, to be still miserably wretched, and only to be exceeded by tliat of the oppressed natives, who are in turn theiv slaves. The company's head -r luartei* are at Moscow ; and the furs ob < tnined ore chiefly sold at three great fairs, viz., at Kiachta, in China, for tlie Chinese trade ; at Nishnci Novogorod, between Moscow and Casan, for the Russian trade ; and at Leipsic for the general Europcon trade. While Russia was thus consolidating and systemizing her fur-trading operations on the north-western coast of America, other parties were directing their attention to a portion of the coast further southward. As em-ly as the year 17G3^ shortly after the cession of Canada to the English, Captain Jonathan Carver, who had been in tho British provincial army, projected a journey across the continent, from tho Canadian lakes to the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Ilia objects were to asceitain the breadth of the continent at ita broadest part, and to determine on some place on the shores of the Pacific, where government might establish a post to facilitate the discovery of a north-west passage: he also thought that a settlement on this extremity of America would disclose new sources of trade, promote many useful discoveries, and open a more direct communication with tho English settlements in Asia. This enterprising man was twice baffled in individual efforts to accomplish this journey. On a third attempt he was joined by Richard Whitwortli, who had wealth enough to engage a band of fifty or sixty hardy adventurers to accompany them. The Indians of tho western regions of America had been often heard to speak of a great river, called by them the " Oregon," or the " river of the west," which flowed into tho Pacific, and it wos one part of Carver's plan to endeavour to reach this river. Un- fortunately, however, the breaking out of the American revolution put an end to the scheme, just as he had obtained the sanction of the government ; and he does not appear to Uuto made another attempt. Carver's want of success damped but did not extinguish the enterprise of others in the same quarter. Sir Alexander Mackenzie, one of the most energetic and talented of the " Nor- Westers," I'wdertook a perilous journey across the con- tinent to the Pacific, which ne reached in 1793. He suc- ceeded ,in tracing a river very nearly to its mouth .at the Pacific, ond thought this to be the Oregon ; but it was after- wards found that the anxiously-sought river lay two hun- dred miles farther south. Mackenzie afterwards suggested the policy of opening an intercourse between the Atlantic and Pacific, and forming regular establishments through the interior, and at both extremes, as well as along the coasts and islands. By this means, he argued, the entire com- mand of the fur-trade of Nortli America might be obtained from latitude 48° to the Pole,— excepting that portion held SUPPLEMENT FOR DECEMBER, 1842. 2C1 [ion of a chafa cd a number of live and lucra- !», from wliora (f wresting th« tics became by .)eror Paul was ton altogether ; is active agent occedings. In lidemble privi- hundred and rcignty oi" iliat const of wliich jy tlic Russian discovered and grand mart for issiuns liad tlio in. The latter , however, waa lad to be dis- id sent to the hief consump- carried their nor'liem parta :o sell them to the expense of ;ain to refer to ny make a few r subject. The JO of the Enipe- uiistcr, Ronian- nstitution. The ly is said, how- ' to be exceeded irn theiv slaves, and the furs ob - ,, nt Kiachta, in )gorod, between and at Leipsio systeniizing her ^ast of America, to a portion of the year 17C3, in^lish. Captain itisU provmcial nent, fron the ic Ocean. Ilia continent at its :e on the shores :ahUsh a post to issnge: he also ity of America te many useful ication with tho 'ising man was sii this journey, rd Whitworth, f -Sfty or sixty i Indians of tho heard to speak ," or the " river and it was one [lis river. Un- the American lie hod obtained B not appear to not extinguish Sir Alexander Alented of the ' across the con- 1703. He suc- mouth .at the ut it was after- r lay two hun- vards suggested n the Atlantio menta through ilong the coasts ho entire com- fht be obtained at portion held by the Russians ; for as to the American adventurers who had enjoyed part of the trulfic along tlio north-west coast, they would BOdU (ILsiippear but'oro a well-regulated trade. A •chemo uf this kinil, however, was too viuit and hnx.ardous lor individual enterpiiw ; it cuuld only bo unA^^V. — Mr. Astou's Projects. — American FvR CoMPANr. — South- West Companv, established by Mr. Astor, and broken up by the War op 1812. — Expedition of Messrs. Lewis and Clarke to the Pacific. Before we proceed to detail the manner in which it was proposed to take advantage of the fur-trading facilities of the Colombia river, it may be well to advert to a fiw matters relating to the fur trade in tho older or more eastern regions of America. The great success of tho Nortli-West Company, towards the latter part of the last century, stimulated to further enterprise in the immense regions of Central North AiiKti'ica. The traffic of that companv lay principally in the high northern latitudes; while tiiere were immense regions to the south and west, known to abound with valu- able furs, but which as yet had been but little explored by the fiir-traders. A new association of British merchants, connected more or less with Canada, was therefore formed, to prosecute the trade in these two directions. They esta- blished their chief factory at a place called by the Indian name of Miciiilimackinac, situated near tlie junction of the three great Canadian Lakes of Superior, Michigan, and Huron. The association, by a convenient abbreviation of the name, called themwlves the " Mackinaw Fur Company." Wliile the " Nor-westers" continued to traffic in the ex- treme avrtlxera regioos^ this new company seat forth their boots by Green Day, Fox River, nnd \viscoiisin River, to tho mighty Mississippi, nnd down that stream to olVits tri- butjiry rivers. They hoped in tiriie to extend tlieir explo- ration down tho whole western side of tlio United States' territory. These various enterprises gave some uneasiness to the government of the United States. The Declaration of In- dependence, by which tho States throw off the supremacy of England, had severed the connexion between them ; mid tho existence of a British Fur Company on the very con- fines of, nnd even within tho Aineneaii territory, gave riso to a wish to have an American establishment likewist*. For this puq>osc tho American government, in 17IHi, sent out agents to establish rival trading houses on tlio frontier ; so as to suiiply tho wants of the Indians, to link their interests and feelings with those of the people of the United State.s, nnd to divert the fur-trade into their own channel. 1'Iiia experiment, however, appears to have been uhsucccsrCuI ; for the dull patronage of jrovernment was found to bo no match for tho keen activity of jnivate enterprise. A private individual, Mr. John Jacob Astor, took up tho matter with singular eneiry and B])irit, and his proceedings constitute one of the most remarkable episodes in the his- tory of tho fur-trade. This gentleman was born of humble parents at n smnll village in Germany ; and after remaining in obscurity in his native town, and oftcrwardu in London, went to America to "seek his fortune." Hu commenced buying and .selling such commodities ns his limited means placed within his reach ; and afterwards em- barked his littlu stock in dealing in fuin, at New York. His firet venture was a successful one, and from that tinio he continued in one career till ho bceamo one of the mo.st wealthy merchants in America. He brought to the task, persevering industry, rigid economy, and strict integrity ; to which he added, as Mr. Washington Irving eloquently ex- presses it, "an aspiring spirit that always looked u|i wards; a genius bold, fertile, and expansive; a sagacity quick to grasp and convert every circumstance to its advantage ; and a singular and never-wuvering confidence of signal success." For some considerable time after the American revolution, Mr. Astor was accustomed to purchase his furs from tho North-West Company in Canada, and send them principally to London for sale; making annual journeys to Montreal for that purpose. A treaty between Great Britain nnd the United States, in 1795, provided that the militaiy posts, occupied by the British witl' in the territorial limits of the United .States, should bo surreiiderc.l. Accordingly, Oswego, Niagara, Detroit, Michiliinackinnc, nnd other posts on tho American side of the Lakes, were given up. An openini;^ was thus made for American merchants to trade on the coii. Land. — Kstahlisiiment and Speedy Downfall of "Astokia." — Sihseqient Procekdinqs op TUE Fuu Companies. — Co.S'cludjno Ouservaiio.ns, It wasaftertho publication'of Lewis and Clarke's researches, that the idea presented itself to the mind of Mr. Astor, of grasjiing, w^li his individual hand, the great enterjirise of a Pacific Pur Company, which for years had been con- templated by powerful associations ami governments. For Konio time he revolved the idea in his mind, gradually cx- tendiiiif and maturing his plans, as liis means of executincr them augmented. The wain feature of his scheme was, to establish a line of trading jiosts along the Missouri and Colombia, to the mouth of the latter, where was to be esta- lilislied the chief trading-house or mart. Inferior posts were to be established in the interior, and on all the tributary streams of the Colombia to trade with the Indians: these posts would draw their supplies from the main establish- ment, and bring to it the peltries they collected. Coasting craft were to be built and fitted out, also at the mouth of the Colombia, to trade at favourable seasons all along the north-west coast, aiidj return with the proceeds of their voy- nyes to the great emporinm, at the Colomliia. Thus all the Indian trade, both of the interior and the coast, would coa- \vrj;e to this point. Thus far, as to tho relations between the great station and the subordinate establishments. To maintain p communi- cation betwecu the Colombia uud the Uoited States, where tho owners of tho project would reside, a ship was to be sent annually from New York to tho Colombia. This would take reinforcements, supplies, and merchandize suited to tho traffic; and would then take on board tho furs collected during the preceding year, carry them to Canton, invest the proceeds in the rich merchandize of China, and return tiius lreii;lited to Now York. It will be seen that tile provisions of this plan involved many striking ditt'erences from those of the Atlantic Com- panies. Instead of making the principal fort near Hudson's my, as the Hudson's Ray Company did, or ut Fort Wil- liam at the extremity of Lake Superior, as the North- West Comnany did, or at Fort Michilimackinac attho junction of the Lakes, as the Mackinaw Company did, and proceeding thence westward, Mr. Astor's plan involved the feature of making the chief fort at the shore of the Pacific itself, and making all the more eastern forts subservient to it. As, however, in thus extending the American trade along the coast to the northward, it might he brought into tho vici- nity of the Russian Fur Company, and produce n hostile rivalry, it was part of the jilan of^ Mr. Astor to conciliato the good will ot that Company by tho most araicahlo and beneficial arrangements. The' Russian establishment was chiefly dependent for its supplies upon transient trading vessels from the United States ; but these vessels were often of more detriment than advantage to the company ; since, being owned liy private advcniurera or casual voyagers, who cared only for present profit, and had no interest in tho permanent prosperity of the tmde, they were reckless in their dealings with tho natives, and made no scrn]de of supplying them with fire- arms. In this way several fierce tribes, in tlie vicinity of 'Jie Russian posts, or within the range of their trading excursions, were fumishcd with deadly means of warfare, and rendered troublesome and dangerous ncii;hbonrs. The Russian Government had made repeated representations to that of the United States, of these malpractices on the part of its citizens, and urged to have this traffic in arms pro- hibited ; but as it did not infringe any municipal law, the American Government could not interfere. Yet still it regarded with some solicitude n traffic, which, if persisted in, might give offence to so powerful a country as Russia; and in this dilemma applied to Mr. Astor, as one ronversant with this branch of trade, for information that might point out a remedy for the evil. Mr. Astor thence thought that he might advance his own plan, and win the good offices both of his own government and that of Russia, by some such ))lan as the following. He conceived the idea of supplying the Russian establisli- mcnt regularly, by means of the annual ship that should visit the settlement at the mouth of the Colombia ; I>y which meons the casual vessels would be excluded from those parts of the coast where their malpractices had been so injurious to the Russians. The whole of this vast scheme did Mr. Astor work out in the privacy of his own thoughts, before he ventured to announce it to any one. . He appears to have been actuated by something more than mere motives of individual profit ; he aspired to that honourable fame which is awarded to men of similar Scope of mind, who by their great commercial enterprises have enriched nations, peopled newly-found lands, and extended the bounds of civilization. He con- sidered his projected establishment at the mouth of the Colombia as the emporium to an immense commerce ; as a colony that would fonn the germ of extended civilization ; and that would carry American influence across the Rocky Mountains, uud spread it along the shores of the Pacific Ocean. As Mr. Astor, by the magnitude of his commei-cial and financial affairs, and his general vigour and talent, had become a conspicuous citizen of the United States, and in conimunion and correspondence with leading statesmen, ho communicated his plans to President Jefterson, and solicited the countenance ot government. In a reply to this com- munication, Jefterson stated that he considered as a great public acquisition " the commencement of a settlement on that point of the western coast of America, and looked for- ward witlj gratification to the time when its descendants should have spread themselves through the whole length of that coast, covering it with free and independent Americans, unconnected with us but by the ties of blood and interest." The government joined with Mr. Jefferson in warm appro- bation jf the jilim, and held out assurance of every protec- tion that could with consistency be aftbrded. Thus encouroged, Jli', Aator prepaied to carry liis scheme 6UPPLEMEN1 xott DECEMBER, 1842. 263 sliip wn» to be in. This would ize suited totho le liiis coiit'ctcd iiitoi), invc'Hf the and ruturi) thtia is \)]nn involved u Atlantic Com- •t nenr Hudson's nr ut Fort, Wil- tho Nortli-Wcst ttho junrtion of ontli, and came to the Sandwich Islands on the lltli February, 1111 1, where they remained seventeen days. Setting .sail again, they arrived at the mouth of tho Colouibia river, on thu 22nd March. After jiiocccding some distance up the river, and trading occasionally with the Indians on cither shore, they founded their fort or jiareiit istablishinent, to which they gave tho name of Astouia, in compliment to the enterprising man, who had set the project on foot. The partners gave tliem- Belves certain tasks to perforin ; some to remain at tho station and open communication with the natives; some to proceed far into the interior, to establish subordinate posts, and others to sail in tho Tonquin along the north-west coast for the eslablishing of further epterjirises. Tho ill-fated vessel sailed from Astoria on the .Ith of June, with twenty- tl;ree persons on board, all of whom were murdered, and the ship destroyed, by u hostileparty of natives encountered on the coast. During the remainder of the year 1011, the little band at Astori:i, discour.iged by the loss of their friends in the Ton- quin, and hearing iiiithing of the overland jiartv, passed their time as well as they could, establishing posts in various ])nrts I'lid opi'iiiiig a trade witli the natives. Thus they wiiiteied ; and the year 1 IU 2 cinie upon them before they had news of the land expedition. 'i'liis exi'eilition had been placed by Jlr. Astor under the direction of .Mr. Hunt, a gentleman of integrity and talent, who iiroeoeded to make the necessary arrangements for tlieir jnnniey. Mr. Hunt repaired to Montreal, in July, Kilo, to jirocuie the requisites for the expedition, lie en- gaged Canadian voviigers, Ijonght a large canoe litted lor the ascent of the American rivers, nnd provided the arms, provisions, and other iiccessinies. Jlr. Iliint ]iroved to be unequid to many of the tricks and niantruvres to which he was siiiijeeted in his progress through Canada, being rather a gentlemanly man, than a rough traveller. He, however, succeeded in reaching by the end of the month, the trading ])ost of Michillnmekiiiac, at the conlhience of the great lakes. Here be found it necessary — or rather he was per- suaded by others — to augment his part^' to sixty, with whom he set off from the lakes on the 12tli of August. The course of the expedition was, from the Lakes to the Mississippi, from thence to St. Louis, where the Missouri joins it, and up the Missouri to the Rocky Mountains. The party arrived at St. Louis on the 8rd of September, and there they found that a mimber of fur-traders had joined themselves into aCompany, under the name of the "Missorni Fur Comi-anv." This circumstance does not seem to have been known at the time to Mr. Astor, and gave rise to most vexations annoyances to Mr. Hunt. The comi)aiiy enticed away some of his men, threw difficulties in the way of his dealings at St. Louis, and gave him all sorts of false infor- mation as to the nature of the route fro:;-, liiencc to tho liocuV Mountains. Tlie numerous delays were such as to prevent him from reaching the Rocky Mountiiins tiiat year ; lint to avoid the expense of wintering at St. Louis, Mr. Hunt determined to jiusli up the Missouri as far as possible to some point above the settlements, where game was plen- tiful, and where his Vvliolo i)arty could be subsisted by hunting, until the breaking up of the ice iu the s]iriiig should permit tlicnl to resume their voyage. In October, 1810, they started on tlie Missouri, and by November Kith, arrived at a spot which they selected for their winter quarters. After a winter of veiy chequered events, the ])arty broke up their encampments and pro- ceeded up the Missouri. What they sutt'ered in this journey by the upsetting of their canoes, the attacks of the natives, the (qipositioii of the agents of the Jlissouri Comi)anv, and the varying features of the country through which' they ])assed, Mr. Washington Irving has described with great vividness. It must sitffice here to say, that after expending tho sumincr iu usccuding tho Missouri, the udvcnturcrd 1 ' i 1 ,! il . '"'1 8C4 /'III THE SATURDAY MAGAZINE. .?( 'i/'.j 1 *1 n !! I'JIINCE OV WALES* FORT, UUDSOM's BAY, AS SEEN IN. 1777> found it 'necessary to abandon their boats and nearly nil their luggiigo, and proceed from the Rocky Mountains to Astoria on tout. Taey spent the winter amoni< die moun- tains, suffering almost every kind of privation which hunger, cold, and sickness could induce. At length in February, 1111^, thev reached Astoria, after havinj' been al)!.wUt from New York twenty months, and after tiie Astorians (if we may use the term) had sutforod the loss of the ship.. When the two expeditions had thus far proceeded, and the various partnei-s and agents joined, various ])lans were formed for prosecuting trade in the adjacent regions. Alean- ■while Mr. Astor, who hail heard nothing of either expe- dition, but who concluded that both had arrived at Colombia safely, sent a second ship, the Beaver, in lllll, fully pro- vided with everything requisite. Accordingly the ship sailed in October, and after wintering at the Saadwicli Islands, arrived at the Colombia in May, 1R12. Thus reinforced, the Astorians proceeded with vigour, trading with the natives, and ccllecting a considerable stock of valuable fui-s. Meanwhile Mr. Astor had been actively engaged making arrangements with the llussian Company respecting their mutual proceedings, and had sent out a third ship, the Lark, to Astoria. The war between England and America, however, whicit broke out about this time, put a stop to all tliese proceedings; for tlio North- West Company were encouraged by the Canadian Autho- rities to oppose the American fur-traders; and a British ship of war sailed to tiie mouth of the Colombia, took pos- session of the fort, and effectually put an end to the esta- blishment. Some of the adventurers returned to New York by sea, some overland by way of the Missouri, some remained as trappers and fur-hunters in the Wilderness, and some died from the privations which they had undergone. What the losses of Mr. Astor may have amounted to, is not stated, but they must have been enoi-mous. On the termination of the war, the posts on the Colombia were rendered back' to the United States, in whose posses- sion they have since legally remained, although there is to the present time some disagreement as to the relative boundaries of the two territories in these regions. But although the posts were nominally restored to the United States, yet the North- West Company, whose agents had purchased the whole stock and property of the Astorians at a very low sum, continued to traffic along the entire course of the Colombia, in spite of the warnings of the Americans that the river was not longer politically open to them. After the junction of the North- West and Hudson's Bay Companies, increased eifoits were made to retain the traffic beyond the Rocky Mountains ; and it is said that they have succeeded in keeping the Americans out of that share of tlie traffic which seems fairly to have been their due. The " Par ■ 'ic Company," established by Mr. Astor, failed, from the causes whicli wo have narrated ; and the " Missouri Com- pany" sceus also to have fallen to nothing. The "American Fur Company," which arose from an anuilgamation of two or three older companies near the Canadian Lakes, still exists, and carries on a considerable trade ui the central regions of America, though inferior, we believe, to the powerful union of the Hudson's Bay and the North- Wcst Comi)anies. The American Company commands the great Mississippi and Missouri rivers, and has introduced steam-boats on these rivers, for the conveyance of tlie fiiTS and the commodities for which they are bt. ^red. Independent of the great companies, two minor ones, called, from the names of their projectors, Ashley's and Bonneville's, have been formed ou the western coast ; so that every part of the American continent westward of the Itocky Mountains is now ransacked for fiirs, northward by the Russian Company, then by the Hudson's Bay Coni])any, and southward bv the minor companies. Besides these companies, a number of individuals " trap" and " hunt" for themselves, in various parts of the American continent. We are not awarc that there are any fur companies, except those connected with North America. There are fur-bearing animals captured in Russia, in South America, and in other countries ; but these enterprises partake more of an individual than of a joint-stock character. By far the lai-gest portion of all the furs obtained in America find their way to London, either directly through the agency of the Hudson's Bay Company, or by commercial dealings ou the part of other parties. From London large quantities are purchased by tlie merchants of Leipsic, who in their turn distribute; the furs over the continent of Europe. The following reasons have been assigned why, if the taste for wearing furs should continue, the supply must necessarily decline. " The advanced state of geographical science shows that no new (extensive) countries remain to be explored. In North America the animals arc mIowIv decreasing, from the persevering efforts and the indiscrimi- nate slaugiiter practised by the hunters, and by tha appro- priation to the uses of man of those forests and rivers wnich have afforded them food and protection. They recede with tlie aborigines beforo the tide of civilization ; but a dimi- nislied supj)ly will remain in the mountains and uncultivated tracts of this and other countries, if the avidity of the hunter can be restrained within proper limitations." END OF THE TWENTY-FinST VOLUME. V I •J ;•. '-..^..li fiiiii •^''A ■)(|'r ,^,:j ,,^. 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