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CONTAINING A FULL DESCRIPTION OF THAT SETTLEMENT, AND THE ADJACENT C0UN:RV; AND LIKEWISE OF THE FUR TRADE, WITH HINTS FOR ITS IMPROVEMENT, ^C, 6ff, TO WHICH ARE ADDED, REMARKS AND OBSERVATIONS MADE IN THE INLAND PARTS, DURING A RESIDENCE OF NEAR FOUR YEARS J A SPECIMEN OF FIVE INDIAN LANGUAGES; AND A JOURNAL OF A JOURNEY FROM MONTREAL TO NEW- ^ORK. By EDWARD UMFREVILLE; ELEVEN YEARS IN THE SERVICE OF THE HUDSON'S B ^^Y COM- PANY, AND FOUR YEARS FN THE CAN AD * FUR TRADE. f. LONDON: PRINTED FOR CHARLES STALKER, NO. 4, STATIONERS- COURT, LUDGATE-STREET. MDCCXg, 3 J ( i ) TABLE OF CONTENTS. Fn 4 A DDR ESS to the Merchants, Traders, and Manufadlurers, of Great Britain Prefatory Advertifement p. I P- 3 I Brief Account of the Climate, Soil, &c. of the Country on the Coafts of Hudfon's Bay - p. 1 1 Extremes of Heat and Cold; — Melancholy Effc6ls of the Cold on three of the Fa6tory Men ; — State of the Atmofphere during the Winter j — Soil and Climate at Churchill Fort, at York-Fort, and at Moofe and Albany-Forts. a The :uf: ( ii ) The Milliners and Cufloms of the In- dians near the Coiifts - p. 29 Ocfcription of their Pcifons ; — Pernicious Ef- fedls of fpirituons I .iquors ; — Tragical In- llanccs of it ; — Difcafcs inciclciit to the In- diana ; — their natural Difpofition j — Pa- tience under Misfoitunes or Fatlouc ; — Ad- dieted to Siiperllition ; — Inflances of it ; — Religious Sentiments ; — Nature of their fivil and military Subordination ; — Account of an Expedition undertaken by fome In- dians agr.infb the Plfciuimaux ; — Indian IVTe- rhod of dividing Time, and computing Numbers; — The Manner in which they trade at tlie Forts. A concifc Account of the Trade to Hudfon's-L'ay, with the Method purfued by the Company in carry- ing it on - - P» ^5 ,1 Summary of die Charter granted to the Com - pany i — L-audable Condudl of the firft Traders and firfl Dire6lors, contrafled with the Condudl of the prefent Company ; — Rivalled by tlie Canadian Traders ; — Dif- ferent ( m ) c In- p. 29 oils F.f- ical In- thc In- ;— Ad- if it ; — f their Vccount )mc In- dn Me- nputing ch tht-y ade to 'cthod carry- p. 65 le Com ' the firfl [led with pany ; — ;— Dif- ferent . i. fcrent Methods of carrying on tlie l\u l'rade;--Su])crionty of the Caniida Trade i-- Stock of the Hiidfon's-Bay Coinpany ; I. ill of the original Proprietors ; — Account of the J^xports for ten Years ;— Charges, Profits and Dividends, during that Time;— Comparative View of the prefent and for- mer Expences ;— Account of Imports or Sales for ten Years i— Prcicni State of the feveral Kftablilliments;— Standard of Prade witli the Natives j— Impofitions of the Tra- ders ;— Valuation of Peltry j—Decay of the Trade at York-Fort, and Caufe there- of;— Ravages of the Small-Pox among the Indians. Reflexions on the Company's Trade, fliewing in what Manner it may be improved to the general Benefit of the Nation - - p. Q'; Condu(5t piirfued by the Company ;— -Tlieir firft Charter expired ;— Advantages that would arife from an extenfion of the Sea Fifheryi— Means by which the Trade may be extended in the inland Parts i— the Im- provement of them negleded. ^ 2 Some ( iv ) ' Some Account of the Company's Officers in the Country, as well the Governors, as inferior Ser- vants - - P' 105 The Council, of whom compofed j — Ap- pointment and Charadler of the Gover- nors i — Tyrannical Condud of one of the Governors ; — Treatment on their return to England ; — Engagement of the Ser- vants i — Circumfpe<5tion ufed at their De- parture from the Setttlcments ; — Provifions allowed the Servants ; — Prices of Goods fold them ; — Their ufual Employment -, — Unhappy Situation of the Apprentices of the Company. Account of the Taking of the Hud- fon's Bay Settlements by the French in 1783 - - p. 124 Taking of York-Fort by Monf La Peroufe ; —Surrendered by the Governor without Oppofition i — Pufillanimity of the Go- vernor J — Churchill-Fort unprovided with Men i— Surrendered in the fame Manner. Remarks f I >.. ^mwB iiW w ii w iny s well Ser- ies ,-Ap. Gover- of the return le Ser- leir De- ovifions Goods nent ; — itices of Hud- rench 124 eronfe ; without le Go- ed with banner. narks ( V ) llcmarks and Obfcrvations made ia the inland Parts of Hiidfon's-Bay, during a Four Years Relidencc in thofe unknown Regions - p. 143 The Author explores a new paiTige into rlia interior Country ; — Number of Perfons employed in the interior Trade. The Face of the Country, its Soil, Climate, and natural Produdtions p. 146 Defcription of a River which falls into Lake Bourbon ; — Coal found on the Banks of it ; — The Country abounds with Mooie, Beavers, &c. — Fruits growing here j— Spe- cies of Snakes and Frog ; — Comparilun between this Clinaate and that on t];e Sea Coafts. Of the Animals of this Country p- 157 A Defcription of the Buffalo nnd BuT.^o Poundi— 'Uf the Moofe, The R d Lcvfi •— ;The Jumping Deer j— 1 n 4pis to- I J ( vi ) chick-0-fhifh ; — Bears, Wolves, Lynxes, Foxes, Wolveiins, and Amphibious Ani- malsi "Birds local and migratory ;- -Fifh, Sec. Of the Indians, their Cufloms, &c. p. 179 The Nehcthawa indians ; — Aflinne-poetiic Indians j — Fall Indians j — SiiITe Indianj ; BLck-Feet Indians; — Paegan Indians; — Blood Indians :-— Tabic of five Indian Languages. A Brief Account of the Prefent State of the Trade carried on among the aforefaid Indians - p. 203 Hecrrpitulation of Circumftances before no- ticed ; — Superior Addrefs of die Canadian Traders counter-balanced by the Honefly and Sobriety of thofe belonging to the Hudfon's-Bay Company ; — The Canadian Servants good Canoemen ; — Succefs of the Canadian Traders; — Oeconomical Expe- dients pointed out to them ; — A Jun6tioi^ between the Canada and Hudfon's-Bay Companies recommended. Journal &c. 179 ( vii ) Journal of a Journey from Montreal to New York in the Year 1788 p. 221 Sets out from Montreal j—Defcription of the Town of St. John's j— Offtake Cham- plain i — Ticonderoga ;— Mount Indepen- dence;— StiJl Water •,— Laughable Ap- pearance of a Regiment of American Miliria exercifing ;-- -Albany i— Town of 1 ludfon i Hudfon's River i— Arrives at New York. -^^?^ ^■i^ »•■} i ,(■»> ■J[-£j^2. ^ ,, ■.■;,)<^^,,T..>Ty,>-.^r«— I. ;i1 TO THE '"v MERCHANTS, TRADERS, AND MANUFACTURERS, C F GREAT BRITAIN. ABOUT the year 1749, an eftbrt was made by the late Arthur Dobbs, Efq. and feveral other patriotic gentlemen, to lay open the trade to Hudibn's Bay, fo that the people of thefe kingdorhs at large might partake of it. Application was accord- ingly made to the Houfe of Commons ; and during the inveftigation of the bulinefs, many petitions were prefented to the Houie from the trading part of the nation, praying that the exclufive right, held by charter, by the Company, might be annihilated* The at- A tempt ( « ) tempt, however, was not crowned with the fuccefs it deferved. The intcreft of the Com- pany unfortunately prevailed, and they have ever lince remained in quiet pofTetlion of their cxtenfive territories, to the great injury of this country, its trade, and manufactures. To make good this afTertion, I humbly fubmit the following fheets to the public; and fhall efteem myfelf happy, if my endea- vours to promote the general good, by point- ing out an avenue to national advantage, which has too long been engrofled by an in- jurious monopoly, (hall procure for me their patronage, and be the means of remedying the evils I have thus made known. EDWARD UMFREVILLE, LoNSOir, JvNB i;rth, 1799. '.;' ''i> •l ( ■ ( 3 ) lithe ^om- have ■ their ry of es. Limbly (ublic ; endea- point- intage, an in- le their ledying [LLE, Prefatory Advertifement. IN the year i77i> I entered into the fervlce of the Hudfon's Bay Company, in the capacity of writer, at the Salary of fifteen pounds a year; and continued in that employ eleven years. But two of their principal fet- tlements being taken by the French in 1782, when I was made prifoner, and, upon theij- reftoration to the Company, foiiae difagree- ment arifing in point of falary, I quitted their fervice. Being thus difengagcd, in April 1783, I ttiade a voyage to Quebec, with a view of ac- quiring a knowledge of the manner in which the Fur trade was carried on from that quarter; and here I remained for four years -, during which time I made the flate of the country^ and the trade of it, my peculiar Ihidy* By fo long a /efidence in that part of the world, I flatter myfelf I am, in a great mea- A a fare. ,7(1^ ' { 4 ) fure, acquainted with every intcrefting parti- cular relative to it ; and (hall lay them before the public with that truth and impartiality which ought to guide the pen of every perfoii who attempts to inform. Of all the authors ;vho have wrote on this ?xtenlive country, few have givena juft and dif- interefted account of it. Some feem to be actu- ated by prejudice, whilfl others, either through want of good information, or a proper know- ledge of the fubje(5t, have led their readers into error, by mifreprefentation. Among the beft writers, we muft rank Ellis and Robfon; the former as a philofophcr, and ingenious reafoner ; the latter as a candid, true, and impar- tial writer, and who, by having redded in the country, obtained a fund of knowledge of his fubjedt which enabled him to inform with confidence. For my part, I fhall only attempt to lay before the public fuch particulars as the above authors had not an opportunity of acquiring a knowledge of, and this I fhall do in a plain anadorned manner, humbly trufting that it will be read with candour, and animadverted on with good nature. Th« nhi parti- before •tiality perfon on this ind dif- )e a6tu- hrough know- readers ong the Robfon; igenious impar- ;d in the of his m wJth attempt ulars as lortunity s I fhall humbly candour. re. Th« ( 5 ) The geographical part of my fubjed I ihall touch very lightly on, as the extent of ^ the country and its boundaries are fulHciently known. My intention is to exhibit to the world the value of the fettlements under con- fideration, and how far they are capable of improvement; pointing out at the fame time, the deftrudtive effedts of a baneful monopoly, which has fubfifted ever fmce the year 1670, It is a matter of reproach to the Hudfon'^ Bay Company, and they have never been able to wipe off thofe fevere cenfures and accufa- tions, which all the writers on this country have fo jufUy fixed on tliem, upon account of it, that they do not augment and make a greater national advantage of their trade, as it is capabable of fo much improvement. At a time when the defedlion of our Ainerican colonies^ has put a flop to the confumption of fo confiderable a part of our manufadtures, is it not fomewhat extraordinary that no per- fon has yjt reprefentei the benefits which would accrue to this country, from explorino" and examining the countries about Hudfon's Bay ? The laying open the trade to the indwf- A 3 • . ^ trious ( 6 ) trlouo adventurers of this nation, would be an aSl worthy a patriotic adminiftration ; as it would be the means of enriching the com- mercial interefls of the kingdom, and giving bread to many who are now pining in djilrefs, particularly to that ufcful part of the com- munity, whp defend our country from infult, and our property from depredation, and who encounter with fortitude every fpecies of danger for the public good; I mean the Britiih Sea* men, numbers of 'vhom we fee daily pining in diftrefs for \yan;- of employment. The Hudfon's Bay Company employ an-r nually two /liips and a floop, to take out fun- dry articles of merchandize, and bring home their peltries. The burthen together of thefe three vefTels falls fhort of fix hundred tons, having on board about feventy-five men, who together with about two hundred and forty perfons refiding in the country, make the whole number of men in their employ to amount to 315. What an infignificant con- fideration ! What a pitiful fbryice, to be in the hands of a few individuals, by whorn others are excluded, that would long fmce have J£Z nsmmjr \- vjwmnfwt;; -■ ( 7 ) have rendered this part of the globe a vakiablc gem in the Britifh empire; — but fuch is the ef- fedl of exclufive monopolies; which, when not eftabliflied on a beneficial foundation, are the bane of national affluence. Though the extent of the country from North to South is pretty ' ell known, yet to the Weftward we are not fo well informed. I have myfelf travelled as far as 120 degrees of Longitude, from the meridian of London, through many different nations of Indians, and have always found them friendly, and ready to receive our commodities with avidity. In fpeaking of the inland country too much cannot be faid in commendation of it. Every fpe- fpeciesof food necelTary for the fupport of man, is to be procured in the greateft plenty. The cli- mate is much milder than on the Sta coaft, and nothing feems to be wanting to the conveni- ence and accommodation of its inhabitants. On the Sea coaft, which the Hudfon's Bay Company folely poiTefs, though nature has been lefs kind, yet the country is not half fa bad as it has been reprefented : the climate^ A i{. though ( 8 ) though cold, is extremely healthful, and our countrymen ufually enjoy a remarkable good flate of health, during their refidence there. I can for my own part aver, that I refided there eleven years without knowing the lead ailment. If a ftrangcr was to vifit thf.fe parts, he would be induced to think, by the de- bilitated ftite of the natives, that he was in a country uncommonly unfavourable to the human fpecies : but the ufe of fpirituous liquors, and not the climate, is the caufe of this misfortune ; they drink to fuqh excefs, that it is rather more furprizing any Hiould be left alive to tell the tale, than that they Ihould be found emaciated, decrepid, and llothful. It is a melancholly refledtion that the poor devoted Indians are by this means confiderably diminished in number, their minds are debafed, their fpirits dejedled, their bodies enervated, and they are thereby rendered unfit to fupport their families, at a time of life when the tender age of their offspring ftands in mgfl need of fupport, I have given an account of the country and ft§ inhabitants on the Sea coafl, diftindt from the ^ ( 9 ) tlic Inland territories, not only on account of my having rcfided there firfl:, hut likewile, as the climate, foil, and prodiK^ions are fo dif- ferent. In giving a defcription of tlie climate on the Sea coaft, I have introduced a journal of an accident which befel three unfortunate men, on their duty at York fort, which will in fome meafure exemplify the feverit/ of the weather in that country during tha winter feafon. A gentleman who rcfided there in the capacity of Surgeon, gathered the account from the furvivor, at different timef^, and in confcquence of it, made many ufcful experiments at York, and Albany Forts, which proved highly acceptable to the learned and ingenious. To give a full and comprehenfive account of Hudfon's Bay, particularly the natural hif- tory thereof, defcribing the animal creation, and the feathered tribes, which are here in great abundance, would require more time than I can poflibly fpare, was I capable of the undertaking. Being under the neceflity of going abroad, I have been obliged to con-» fine myfelf to the ufeful part of the fubjedt; In doing ( 'o ) doir.g whicPi I have advanced nothing but what I know to he true, cither from iny own experience, or the narration offome intelligent pcribn whofe veracity I can depend upon. A BRIEF ACCOUNT, &c. A BRIEF ACCOUNT • Of the Climate, Sqil, 5cc. of the Country on the Coails o/' Hudson's Hay, ^c. YORK FORT, where I rcfidcd eight years, lies in the hit. of ^j dcg. ^ mhi. N. long. 93 dcg. W. from Lon- don, as determined by Mr. Pliihp Turner, a Gentleman employed by the Company to make agronomical obfervations within the limits of Hudfon's Bav. The air is very falubrious and healthy, efpeciall)/ during the intenfe cold in the winter months; and in the fummer, though we find it much hotter than in England, yet Europeans -in general enjoy a ftate of health, unknown to the inhabitants of more temperate climes. The atmofphere is clearcft and moft ferene in the coldefl: weather, and the mofl pierc- ing cold is felt at fun rifing. A good Fahrenheit's Thermometer frequently flood at 50 degrees below the cypher in the month of January; whereas in fuijimer, the mer- cury would very frequently afcend to 90 deg, above the cypher, making a difference of 140 de- Vf Jl ■■ •' .V,.l • i ■•11 ■■■ll 'i ( " ) 140 degrees between the extremities of heat and cold. From November to the Vernal Equinox, Britifh, and even French fpirits, rum, and the like, will freeze to the con- fidence of honey. When expofed without doors, in the fpace of four hours, Englifli brandy, contained in cafks of no gallons each, will be often found too thick to run through a large brafs cock. We huvc cellars that are eight or ten feet deep, un- der the guard- rooms where the people live, aJid where there is a daily and almoft perpetual fire; yet even in this rcpofitory, I have feen the London porter fo frozen, that only a few g?llons could be got out of a whole hogf- head ; the remainder has been converted to ice feveral inches thick, which, when thawed, had not the lead flrength remain- ing. I have feen a cafk of water put into the open air, and in 48 hours it has burft the cafk. In an hour's time, the air condenfes fo thick on the windows, that it is impof- fible to difcern an object on the other fide; and it likewife adheres in large quantities to the wainfcoiting on the iniide^ as well as to the cieling of the rooms. The froft is never ^ out .,r»i'!;«Jji''>iS;-:.i-. ii\t ( '3 ) out of the ground ; even in fummer It is thawed but about four feet below the fur- face; and in the thick woods, the warmth of the afmofphere gets no lower than two feet. The intenfenefs of the cold is beyond expreflion, and its efFeds are frequently productive of the moft tragical events. The poor natives take every precaution to guard againft its confequences j but notwithftand- ing their utmofl- care, they f.'equently fall a prey to its feverity. Unhappy, indeed, is the fate of thofe poor creatures, who meet with this kind of death ! After en- during great torment for a confiderable time, the cold at length feizes the vitals, when the unfortunate perfon foon expires. Wo- men have been found frozen to death, with a young infant, like wife frozen, clafping its arms round the mother's neck; others ha^e been found dead, and the babe ftill alive. "1' f. ■ ' .1 J' . t ! 1'-^ The iirft year I whitered in Hudfon's Bay, afforded an opportunity of defcribing the me- lancholy efFefts of the cold in the perfons of three of our Fad:ory men, whofe names were John Farrant, James Tomfon,and James Rofs. The ■..^V':,...: ■!-ii 1 ', ' i i .( '4 ) The following accot nt was gathered at times from the latter, who furvived his unfortu^ nate companions. » ■ On Monday, January the 6th, 1772, thefc three men fet out in the morning in order to hunt partridges, and to collect frefh provifions for the Fafiory, as is the cufl »m of the country. They were to flay three weeks; at the conclufion of which time they were to return with what' they had procured. In the early part of their journey they had a river to crofs, about three miles over, which was not compleatly frozen at the time they reached it. Near this river, they flept the firft night, intending to crofs it the next morning. Tuefday the 7th. About eight or nine o'clock in the morning they proceeded to crofs the river, but they had not walked far on the ice before they perceived the fmoke of open water below them, and that they went very faft down the rivef; which convinced them that they were adrift. This they found to be the cafe, and that the ice they ( IS ) they were on was a large fmooth field. They had two dogs with fleds with them, and the ebb tide carried them out to fea. .■.<•■ Wednefday the 8th. The tide of flood brought them into the fame river, but not fo high as the place from whence they had been firft carried. The weather hitherto had been very mild, and it had fnowed a little during the night. In their baggage was fome cake they had baked the day be- fore they left the fort, and a bottle with near a quart of gin ; of this they took a little now and then. Thurfday the 9th. The weather ftill continued remarkably mild and clear. They were again driven up the river with the flood, but not fo high as yefterday, as the tides were falling off. As the piece of ice they were upon did not, during its thus driving up and down the river, come near the fhore, they were obliged to continue on it, and were driven out again with the ebb. The cake and gin was not yet expended, and they flept '': I- &y. i I i6 ) flept together in a leathern tent upon thd 1C6. "|ii Friday the loth. The weather mild as before, with fmall breezes of wind from the S.E. quarter. A little fnow fell in the night. The flood brought them again into the river, and this day they exerted them- felves very much to gain the (bore. In hopes of doing this Rofs took his gun, powder and fl:iot, blanket, and a little bag contain* ing matclals for kindling a fife j Farrant took only a beaver coat. Tomfon was fo anxious to gain the fliore that he would flay for nothing. One of the dogs accompanied them, the other ftayed with the lleds. After wandering about over the ice with the greated anxiety for the major part of the day, they found their utmofl endeavours in- effedual; they therefore turned about to go to their fleds; but, to add to their misfortunes, they faw the fleds pafs them on another piece of ice, and the dogs eating and tearing the tent, &c. without their being able to come at them. Their little ftock of cake was ex- pended this day. The ebb tide now car- ried injf^aHfWsi S(*tP?w,«>*' ( 17 ) tied thciri far out into the bay, £0 that they loft fight of the land, and wild geefe and other fea fowls hovered over them m great numbers. Rofs and Tomfon lay under the blanket, and Farrant ufed the beaver coat. % 1i"r U, H- ', *, ■:'-: Saturday the 1 1 th. The weather, though colder than any of the preceding days, was yet very moderate for this frigid time of the year. The wind S.W. a moderate frofti the night over-caft, but the day clear. The unhappy men had feen land to eaftward, and again to the northward. When the flood made, they drew nearer to the land, and the ice clofing about high water, aflforded them hopes of once more getting on fhore ; but the attempt did not fucceed. John Far- rant this day had the misfortune to fall into the water, in ftdpping from one piece of ice to another; he was nearly carried under, before Jiis miferable companions could drag him out. Rofs having a clean ihirt in his bag, tliey put it upon Farrant, and belted the beaver coat about him : after- wards, being nearly fpent, he lay down,* B while W4 I: ' . I'' ( '8 ) while Rofs and Tomfon gathered pieces of ihelving ice, which they placed round him, as a barricade againft the weather. They had a piece of fugar left, and half of it was all they fubfifted on that day. i . h 'N .1 ■': -J 1 '■- I "■>:> % f • ft Sunday the I2th. Though it w^s very warm all the day, yet it was very difagree- able, as it blew very hard from the N.E. and much fnow fell, which caufcd it to drift much during both the day and night. The piece of ice they were upon had grounded before day-break ; and when the flood made, the water began to come upon it, fo that they were obliged to call upon Farrant to rife; but death had freed the poor man from his troubles. Rofs and Tomfon continued on or near the fame piece until the water had fallen away. While they fat weeping by the corps, a feal came upon the ice; it did not meddle with the body, but looked very ftedfaftly on them ; Tomfon defired Rofs to flioot it, but he rcfufed, faying, *• I myfelf may foon be dead." They af- terwards went from piece to piece, but the weather being thiclc, they knew not what cottrfe ggyy piiwwnwrTywi»WTi'"?J«y" ( »9 ) courfc to take. The fugar which remained was their food this day, and now their whole ftock was expended. Monday the ijth. A ftifF gale of wind Aill continued from N. to N.N.W. with thick drifting weather; the morning was mild, but as night approached it grew very fharp and cold. Tomfon and Rofs walked again amongft the rough ice. The hands of the former were fwelled to fuch a lize, that even with the afliftance of his comrade, he could not force them into his mittens ; his face was alfo much tumified, and he became delirious ; for on Rofs telling him, ^hat in two days they would reach the Fadtory, he anfwered, what , naming a village in the Orkneys, to Which he belonged. The flood confined them to the fame piece of ice, and here poor Tomfon died, jufl as the moon funk below the horizon* .Uv > <■ I . .1 Tuefday the 14th. The gale was quite abated, but the cold increafed, and though very rimy, yet the fun flione early in the morning. The water flowed upon the ice B a -■ that ' u .1 . tl ■ f I' 11.1 '11!1 'I .It' )■ I ;■'•.:! ■;:'■ I: .1 i.j. > .iiii f { -20 ) fliat Rofs remained on, and foon after it drove a large piece over Tomfon's body, upon which Rofs with difficulty got. The ebL running out, and the fun becoming vifible, he diredled his courfe by it, and after walking all the day over the rough ice, he reached the (hore at the back of the Fa(^ory Ifland, where a path is cut ftrait, from high water mark, to the Fadory. The unfortunate man imagining himfelf on the eaftern fhore, fniftook this opening for fome river or creek on that coaft, fo walked up till he came to a place which he remembered. Here he found his miftake, and returning back immediately, flruck into a right path. He now broke down fome flicks, and en- deavoured to kindle a fire, but without ef- fe6l. In this attempt he froze his fingers j he had benumbed them before in exchang- ing mittens and iflifling Tomfon : his feet were like wife benumbed before he reached the fliore. This night he lay on a few fticks, he h^d broken down for that pur- pofe. Wednefdav ( ai ) Wedncfday the 15th. The weather this day was very moderate. He fet out for the Fa(flory, but his extreme weaknefs made him fall feveral times, which filled his mittens with fnow, and froze his fingers folid. Though the diftance was no more than four miles at fartheft, it was feveii o'clock in the evening when he arrived at the gates, where he fired his gun off to make hmifelf heard. The extremity of his nofe was frozen, but he v/as perfedlly fea- fible on his ai rival. One of the dogs came home with him, having ftaid by him all the time. I.' . (..-'1 > '. , The packet for Churchill went from the Fadtory but the day before ; had the fac - torymen but followed the track of thefe natives, all then would have been well ; but the decrees of Provider ce are unfearch- able. The other dog was flightly wounded by a fetting gun on the eaftern (hore. Poor Tomfon declared the day before his death, that he could h;iv e lived much !( h? had provifioDS to eat, longer ha4 VSf 3 3 TU ^m ■■^i^^lMrA h:"'- ! an annuity of 2pl. for life. Before I leave the fubjedl of this unfor-. tunate man, I cannot help remarking, that his ingratiti^dc was confpicuous to a great degree; notwithftanding his mates in the Fadory, chiefly his poor countrymen, af- fedted by his misfortunes, had ' fo liberally contributed towards his fupport, he had not the fenfibllity to thank any one of them for their humanity, though the greateft part of his benefactors had no mpr^ thai^ 61. a year, III ( i3 ) In thecoldeft weather the atmofphere is the moft fcrene. Throughout the day the air is generally filled with icy particles, which arc fmall beyond conception ; thefe are driven about in the diredion of the wind, and adhere to every thing which happens to be in the way of their progrefs. In the evening the ftars begin to (hinc with refulgent luflre; and the contemplative mind is ftruck with reverence and awe, to fee the Aurora Borealis darting with inconceivable velocity to all parts of the heavens. Very few winter nights pafs in Hudfon's Bay, without this phaenomenon making its ap- pearance; fometimes the irradiations are (ccn of a very bright red, at other times of a pale milky colour, undulating with every beau- ty it is pollible to conceive or defcribe. '■<■ In the winter feafon, it frequently hap- pens that the air is fo full of watery va- pours, that the fun will be obfcured for feveral weeks together. This is occafioned by the rime, which afcends from the open fea water, and being condenfed by the cold, is driven by the wind to a confiderablc dif- B 4 tance. km m , ''I' ( S4 ) tancc. I have fcen the trees, 6cc. fifty miles off to leeward, covered over with it. ; II ',. !i;:. i M •1:1' "■'i;' I, ;, During the cold ferenc weather in the winter, innumerable flars fhine forth with inconceivable brilliancy ; and, added to the beautiful appearance of the moon, make a moft reverential and fplendid ap- pearance ; Parhelia likewife become vi- fible, which is a Aire indication of intenfe cold ; and Parafelenes or mock moons ap- pear, when the vapours arifing from open \vater become condenfed by the froft. The foil at Churchill Fort, which iret in lat. 59 deg. 00 min, is generally rocky near the fea coafts, very dry, and bare of vegetables. There are no woods within feven miles of the ihore, and confequently, the Fadlory is much expofed to the incle- mency of the weather, efpecially in the winter feafon. The woods here are confider- ably fmaller than at York Fort j the trees of which they confill are junipers, pines, pop- lars, and willows, but fo infignificantly fmall, that it is with fome difficulty the winter's ( «5 ) winter's fire- wood is procured for the Fac- tory ; and the flirther the traveller proceed j to the Northward, the barer he will find the earth of every kind of vegetable. The inhabitants likcwlfe become fewer; till at length not the lead herb is to be feen, nor any trace of human fteps obferved, in the frigid waftc. At Churchill the winters arc very long, and the cold intcnfely feverc. About the latter end of 0(flober, the (hortening of the days, the coldnefs of the weather, and other indications, proclaim the proximity of winter; and from that time to the middle of May, this part of the world is buried in froft and fnow. During this period, the utmoft precaution is fre- quently ineffectual to repel the feverity of the feafon. Many kinds of birds and animals become white; and feveral perfons have unfortunately loft their lives in travel- ling over thefe unhofpitable regions. Not- withftanding all this, when the genial rays of the fun begin to extend to thefe parts of the globe, vegetation is exceedingly quick. The trees (hoot up with furprizing cele- rity, and the Factory people are foon able to ■If ■' _* i* ;'>i' But on leaving the marfhy ground, and retiring inland to the fouthward, the trees are of a more ftately growth ; and about Moofe and Albany Forts, they are found of all diameters. Here the climate is much more temperate than at York Fort and Churchill Settlement. Potatoes, turnips, and almoft every fpecies of kitchen garden AufF, are reared with facility ; and no doubt corn might be cultivated, if the lords of the foil had patriotifm enough to make this cxtenfive country of any fervice to Great- Britain. But it has been an invariable mai^im with t'leni for many years paft, to damp every laudable endeavour in their ier- ▼ants, that might tend to make thefc coun- tries B. :f«,^ M • , l' . ■;ii ■■'!! ■■' !!■ .1. f 'S, ..I;:, IM '^ll;: (.illtl ,:,;Mh lili :tj th'l ''•■ 'II'! I '(I'M, •' :; i 1 ' i 'il';' ,l: 'I , .•■;( r-Jlt 1!!.'^ .t 1(1 ( ( 1 I: I'N'I III' ( 28 ) tries generally beneficial to the Mother Country. This condudt will appear very extraordinary to thofc, who are unac- quainted with the felf-interefted views of the Company. They imagine, that if it was known to the nation, that the lands they pofTefs were capable of cultivation, it might induce individuals to enquire into their right to an exclulive charter; it is therefore their bufinefs to reprefent it in the word light poflible, fo difcourage an inquiry, which would fhake the f'-nda- tion of their beloved monopoly. But to return. — Throughout the woods to the fouth ward theground is covered with a very thick mofs, among which grow various kinds of fmall (hrubs, bearing fruit, fuch as goofe- berries, currants, flra wherries, rafberries, cranberries, with many others too tedious to mention. A herb, which the native?; call Wee fuc a pucka, grows very plentifully in all parts of the country. The Indians xnake ufe of it hy w^iy of medicine; it makes a very agreeable tea, and is much tifed here both by Europeans and natives, > i . not .., , -'■•■ ! ')■■-. ;«^ .> .M-I?^i>r-:. Vi ( 29 ) not only for its pleafant flavour, but for its falutary efFedts. Its virtues are many ; it is an aromatic, very ferviceable in rheu- matic cafes, ftrengthens the ftomach, re- lieves the head, and alfo promotes perfpi- ration. Outwardly, it is applied to gan- grenes, contufions, and excoriations ; in the latter cafe the powder is made ufe of. Another herb of much utility to the na- tives grows like wife here; this they call Jack ajh a puck. They mix it. with their tobacco to reduce its ftrength. «,.<•' fs.. T^hi Manners y Cufioms^ Gfr. of the Indians, Having given a brief account of the climate, foil, &c. of the country, it will not be unfeafonable to fay fomething of the people who inhabit it. The Hudfon's Buy Indians were originally tall, properly pro- portioned, ftrongly made, and of as manly an appearance as any people whatever. This, however, w^as before their commerce with Europeans had enervated and debafed their minds and bodies, by introducing fpi- rjtuous liquors among them, and habitu- ating . /.' \ m ■|,.; .X \Wt^: ' ' 'V , ■■•I'l ■II ■ . „ ■■:,:";;.;:■ L 1 u^ ■"■;;; ' .'if ■■''•■ 1 ' i''';|;';, i I; • ; r ■ ' "I ■■\' ii'i 1 I 1 •1 • 11 1 :;;';^!; 1 "1 •■!• . J '!!:' \v ^ :::'l; Ml,.; •m m .,!Si ,:li;. , 'I • li-i '?'• !'(' iMi i ip 1 ^,. :if:S m •- i i ■ ^ ( 3° ) ating them to fcvere courfcs of drinking* They are naturally much addidled to this fatal cuflom ; but when it is encouraged and enforced by thofe who call themfelves an enlightened people, it certainly is not only blameable, but highly criminal* Were common fenfe but made ufe of to diredt the condudt of thofe who are benefited by the trade carried on with the Indians, felf- intereft and good policy would teach them to difcourage, as much as poflible, a habit fo prejudicial to theni, and fatally deftrudtivc to thefe miferable people. They are gene- rally of a benevolent difpcfition, and eaJy to be perfuaded by perfons who underfland their language; but as a moft unconfcionable gain is got by trading in fpirits with them, it is not to be fuppofed the fadlors will ever be induced to put a ftop to this unchriftian pradice. An Indian will barter away all his furs, nay even leave himfclf without a rag to cover his nakednefs, in exchange for that vile unwholefome fluff, called Englifh brandy. If by fuch excelTive intoxication they only irreparably injured their own con- flitutions, and debilitated their race, the confequences. :5fi: ( 3' ) confequences, though pernicious, would not be fo dreadful as they ufually are -, but du- ring their intoxication not only frcfli quar- rels enfue, old grievances are alfo renewed, and death is frequently the confequenceof former bickerings, which but for this ftimu- lator had been buried in oblivion. The following tragical inftances of the baneful cfFedts of thefe poifonous diftilla- tions, happened, among many others, un- der my own knowledge. Excefs of liquor frequently makes Europeans merry and gay; but with the Indian it has a. contrary effedl : at this time he recollefts his departed friends and relations ; he laments their death very pathetically with tears ; and if near the graves any of of them, will fometimes runout and weep at them. Others again will join in chorus in a fong, although unable to hold up their heads ; and it is ndt un- common for them to roll about the tent in a fit of frenzy, and frequently into the fire. On thefe occafions fome quarrel is fure to {ake place, and fome ancient dif- agreeiucnt is revived. They fometimes have the v'"t.. f . mi m if* .:•■.:• .i,f„.l; . |,,.. ". ,'1. ,lMh'' •u. ••,;(■'.. II,. I * '■ I, i:, ■■!■.. I. :i II 1 1, 'II .I- • 1. ' .,' I i ''Illi- cit if! Hm m !■!;!. I'll ' I ( 3* ) fhe precaution to order the women to re- move all ofFenfive weapons out of the tent ) but as they cannot part with their teeth, it is not unufual to fee fome of them the next morning without a noie. Sometimes they come off with the lofs of an ear, or joint of a finger. In thefe affrays no regard is paid to relationfhip, brothers and fifters often engaging each other. After one of thefe rencounters, an Indian entered the Fort one morning, and defired to be ad- mitted to the furgeon j as foon as he got into his apartment, he faluted him in broken Englifh with *• Look here, man, here my nofe," at the fame time holding out his hand, with half his nofe in it, which he war*ed the furgeon to put on again, for* they have a great opinion of the faculty. The man's nephew, it feems, had bit it off, and he declared, that he felt no pain, nbf was f.nfible of his lofs, till awaking the next morning he found the piece laying by his fide. •it-;, ih'i 1 '•■'\i-' ■:;..:||'ii!ii- i li A few years iince, a party of Indiaiis came down to trade, and the firfl. day of their ( 3i ) tlkif arrival, as their invariable cuftoni is, got drunk. In this flate of inebriation, as two of them were ftruggling together, one of them finding that he could not dif- crigage himfelf from his antagonid, fnatched a bayonet out of its cafe, and flabbed him in the bread. On hearing a noife, fomc perfons went into the tent to learn the caufc ; wheri they found the unhappy man in a inoft defperate date, his lungs protruding through the wound, as large as a man's hand, at each refpiration. A tent was pitched for him within the Fadtory Works, and every afliftance was given hirri by the Engliflii but he died on the fiftcfenth day. ■: ''i r, , .>'■ At andtliei* time three Indian men were fent with a packet from York Fort to Churchill River. The firft thing to be done I after they arrived at the place of deftination. Was, as ufuai, to gtt dead drunk. There [happened to be jln Indian here, who had Iformerly borne fome animofity to one of jthefe packet-men, but which had never jbecn thought of when reafon pofTcfTed the C fenfes : i'^ •7 'I';"', ' .11,' fv ' iii''itr :;''.d4;'!;: '--If •■''ij ' I ^'i'l'M' i'i"il" '•#■' m. I ■ 'A m ::ifi H'l ;l' " ^'il!!) ■!' -rtM;:;,;,' ■I'iifi m j :-■! f . ■i.Mi . . i {am iiii 'ill'' ''ti''' t ill:!: ii: :(U ( 34 ) lenfcs : the fumes of the liquor, however, revived, with peculiar acrimony, the revenge which lay buried in his bofom. After dif- courfing together for fome time, and irri- tating each other with bitter retorts, the man who fappofed himfelf injured went into the Fadory, and procured a bayonet from the Governor, with which he very foon put a period to the exiftence of his unhappy adverfary. The deceafed left a wife and eight children. I could recount upv/ards of forty in- flances of a fimilar kind, which occurred to me whiirh I was in Hudibn's Bay, where revenge, and deftrudion, marked the fleps of the drunken favage ; but the above inftances will fufficiently (hew the iniquity and evil tendency of fupplying the Indians with fpirituous liquors, and encouraging the immoderate ufe of them. By this dia- bolical commerce the country is impover- ilhcd of inhabitants, the trade of courfe imperceptibly declines, and this extenfive fettlement is in a great msafure prevented , from! ( 35 ) from rivalling many of our other foreign eftablifliments. The natives of Hudfon's Bay are a people of a middle fize, of a copper complexion, their features regular and agreeable, and few diftorted or deformed perfons are {ecn among them. When young they have ex- ceffive large bellies, which is to be attri- buted to the enormous quantity of fo©d they devour; but as they grow towards puberty this part decreafes to a common lize. Their conftitutions are ftrong and healthy, and their difordcrs few -, the chief of thele is the dyfentery, and a violent pain in the bread, which the Englifh call the Country Diftemper. The latter is fuppofed to proceed from the cold air being drawn into the lungs ; which impeding the vef- fels from fpreading throughout that organs hinders the circulation, and renders re- fpiration extremely painful and difficult ; yet I never heard of any dying of it. The venereal difeafe is alfo very common among them, but the fymptOms are much milder than in Europe, perhaps owing to their C 2 dier> ft >'l '*:yn ;i ■:;.iK|i,' I ; I' ;, ■ii ";■*•■ ...ll;. ■ ' u n '' .1" ,:> i| 'lit. 'l!t! 1:'; ■)'■ . .. ' ' (11 "I '•'■ilil' .' ' V'h l,f':;,, ; 1)1 .- ■■ ■■■«■"■ m 'I ■I- I. ill! il'!! ' "i •'"'•I :")-l:t. '(■:■ w Hill ' .iiiii; ■.f.;i, I ■' Ii'ii :l|iii Liiii;:! ■•> • I. ■ii .1 'iii:r.! . ■.;( ! I lilt i ■ '. '! ij^ ifir ill; i: (!!■• W. ( 36 ) diet, which is void of fpiccs, or Talt, and of fpirituous liquors, when from the Fadlory . They feldom live to a great age, but enjoy all their faculties to the la(l. In their difpofitions they are mild, affable, and go©d-natured, when fober ; but when intoxicated they are lofl: to every focial quality, and difcover the greateft propenllty to quarrelling, theft, and the worft of vices. When we view the fair fide of their characters, we find them kind, courteous, and benevolent to each other, relieving the wants and neceffitics of their diftreffed bre- thren with the greatefl: good- nature, either by counfel, food, or cloathing. The good cfFedls of this excellent difpolition are fre- quently experienced by themfelves 3 for, as in their mode of life no one knows how foon it may be his own fate to be reduced to the verge of extremity, he fecures for himfelf a return of kindnefs, fliould he experience that viciffitude. On the other hand, they ate fly, cunning, and artful to a great degree ; they glory in every fpecies of furacity and artifice, efpecially when the theft ■■ ( 37 ) theft or deception has been To well executed as to cfcape dctedlion. Their love to their offspring is carried to a very great height. From the ftatc of childhood to maturity they fcldorn or never correal their children, alledging, that when they grow up they will know better of thcmfelves. Neither is this indulgence made a bad ufc of when refledionfucceeds the irregularities of youth; on the contrary, fentiments of reverence, gratitude, and love, link their affedtions tp the authors of their being ; and they feldom fail to give the utmofl afliftance to their aged parents whenever their imbecility re- quires it. With refpe6l to their corporeal abili- ties, they are almofl: without exception great walkers ; they patiently endure cold, hunger, and fatigue; and bear all mis- fortunes with admirable fortitude and re- iignation, which enables them bravely to encounter the profpedl of ill, and renders the mind fcrene under the prefTure pf ad- verfity. As their country abounds with innumerable herds of deer, elks, and buf- C 3 faloes. ■■^ !•' ■■■■..Sr .■■M'Y €n. •'i, V'..!l,".^ •' > i! s- I'll '•i/»' >v I' Mil, m- It 1^ "..1:11 4- ■ '.up .;'"v-'i[l!' 'i ii i.>''i I II'; , ( 38 ) falocs, they frequently make great (laughter among them ; and upon thele occaiions ^hey have no regard to futurity, or pro- viding for an unfuccefsful day. Whether they happen to be pining under the grafp of pinching neccfljty, or enjoying themfelves in all the happinefs of health and plenty, they kill all they can, having an incontro- vertible maxim among them, which is, ** the more they kill, the more they have to kill :'* and this opinion, though dia- metrically oppofitc to reafon or common fenfe, is as pertinacioufly held by them, as his tenets are by the mod bigotte^^' nthufiaft. Indeed, they too frequently finu ic to their cojfl to be grounded on folly, as they fome- times fufFer extreme hunger through it; nay, many have been ftarved to death, and others have been reduced to the fad neceflity of de- vouring their own offspring. As a great part of the Fadory provifions conlifts of gQtfe killed by the Indians, the Englifli fupply them with powder and fhot for this purpofe, allowing them the value of a beaver fkin for every ten gtefe they kill; ( 39 ) kill ; accordingly, after the Indian has got this fupply, he fets ofF from his tent early in the morning into the marfhes, where he fets himlclf down, with a degree of pa- tience dirtlcult to be imitated, and being flieltered by a few willows, waits for the geefc. They fhoot them flying, and arc fo very dexterous at this fport, that a good hun- ter will kill, in times of plenty, fifty or fixty in a day. Few Europeans are able to endure cold, fatigue, hunger, or advcrfity in any fliape, with an equal degree of magnanimity and compofure to that which is familiar to the natives of this country. After being out a whole day on a hunt, expofed to the bleakcft winds and mofl: penetrating cold, and that without the lead thing to fdtisfy the calls of nature, an Indian comes hom.e, warms himfelf at the fire, fmoaks a few pipes of tobacco, arui then retires to refl, as calm as if in the mldft: of plenty ; but if he happens to have a family, he cannot always boafi: of this equanimity; when re- duced to extremity, his affeclion for them predominates over his philcfophy, if it C 4 ' -mio-ht ' •. ' » I 1 ,i ibh;' "f; :'",t:i •■" .'• "'Ihi ■■!■ ., I ,11, '<''• ;| • I ,:^^' i" • "'" ■/ 'll.rHl..-: iii>i'* 1.,; •■', , -■i.lr r '■ .11 :^':-i., .j't'i ^ tI;j;. I '"I ■'')■. :; i'i! ■AU' {$:"■ .n' ;.ir:!! -I i . ) ■'(!■ . Jl^li ^ it: f "ill" , ( 4° ) might be fo called, and it gives way to th<: moft pungent forrovv. A blind and uuconcjqerable fuperftition bears a principal fhare in the charadpr of thefe uqpolifliecl Indians. By this he is in- duced to impute every occurrence of his lif^ to fupernatural caufes. His good or bad fuccefs in hunting, the welfare of his friends and family, his duratjon in thi^ mortal flate, ^c. all depend upon the capricious will and pleafur^ of fome invifibje agent, whom he fuppofes to pr^fide ovgr alj his yndertakings : for iriftanf;e, one jnan wiH iqvpke a con- fpicuous ftar, anpther a wolf, one a bear, and anotiher a particular tree ; which he imagines influences his good or ill fortune in this life. In the fpring of 1 779, fome Indians, whp were employed in the vicinity of York Fort in the goofe hunt, were fo influenced by thefe fuperftitious ideas, that they be- lieved the Devil, with hideous hosvlings, frequented their tent every night. TJiey <:ame to the Fadlory qyitc dejeded, and told IK-V ifimmrwrwrr ■ Tr'' { 4« ) told the Governor a lamentable tale, fetting forth, with pathetic energy, the difVrelTcs tl^ey were expofed to from this vifitatioii of the Father of Iniquity. So overcome were they by their apprehenfions, that they l^ept Jarge fires continually burning all night, and deeping only in the day-time. Qne of them declared that he had fired his gui) at him, but unluckily mififed him. He defcribed hini to be of human fhape, going about with cloaths, and taking prodigious ftrides over the fnow. The Indians be- lieved that he came in queft of fqme of their families, a part of whiph qiufl be facrificed to afliiage his anger. A Jjftle brandy, however, properly applied;} had a wonderful efFefl; for after going through a courfe pf enebjriation for two days, all the fears that the Devil had occafioned were en- tirely diffipated. It proved afterwards, that the formidable enemy that had caufed fuch a panic ^mong them, was nothing more than a night owl, which had frequented this place. This bird* by the flirieks and difmal noife which he makes in the night, frequently caufes fuch apprehen- fionsi M\^' si'.-'! '■»':; 4 ...... ; <; • w :Mm ■;i"i .... . , .,' 1.. :^J .:;ir;i,.i, '. - f ■■ j . .. ■••.::i..^; ■■ -^■'fi •■■'Hi: ■It; .1.: i;:|:': ■■■■ ■' "ii"'!,. Kit ■■■. ijii ;':i;: ■■'' Mi' ':••" : Ij {|'li!flH:,,.! l|i|i;:':;|' jii' 'in ■f. ; '' ■' 'ill III' , H'l! ,1 m 'm I ' :li !(!':: t,(!;.:ii ■ II ! M ■if!; •,ii v' ,» n « ; ';'^:il"' '■'■ ■! !;| l!; .Hi l'^': ( 42 ) iions In the minds of the Indians, that it WO' \s upon their imaginations to fuch a de- gree, as to induce them to believe the Devil is really and fubflantially prefent. Exclufive of thefe fuperftitious ideas, the religious fentiments of thefe people, though confufed, are in many refpedts juft. They allov^r that there is a good Being, and they fometimes ling to him; but not out of fear or adoration, for he is too good, they fay, to hurt them. He is called Kitch-e-man-e-to, or the Great Chief. They further fay, there is an evil Being, vt^ho is always plaguing them ; they call him Whit-ti-co, Of him they are very much in fear, and feldom eat any thing, or drink any brandy, without throv^ing fome into the fire for Whit'ti'Co. If any misfortune befals them, they fing to him, imploring his mercy ; and when in health and profperity do the fame, to keep him in good humour. Yet, though obfequious fometimes, at others they are angry with him, efpecially when in liquor ; they then run out of their tents, and fire their guns in order to kill him. They frequently perfuade ( 43 ) pcrfuade themfelves that they fee his track in the mofs or fnow, and he is generally de- fcribed in the mofl: hideous forms. They believe that both the good and the bad Being have many fervants ; thofe of the former in- habiting the air, but thofe of the latter walking on the earth. They have likev/ife an opinion that this country was once over- flowed ; an opinion founded on meeting with many fea fhells far inland. mi They have no manner of government or fubordination. The father, or head of a fa- mily, owns no fuperior, nor obeys any com- mand. He gives his advice or opinion of things, but at the fame time has no au- thority to enforce obedience : the youth of his family follow his diredions, but rather from filial affedtion or reverence, than in confequence of any duty exadted by a fu- perior. When feveral tents or families meet to go to war, or to the Fadories to trade, they choofe a leader, but it is only volun- tary obedience they pay to the leader fo chofen ; every one is at liberty to leave Jiira when he pleafes, and the notion of a commander rJ ;; i<-' A : 6. " ft fi ' • I* '■r ■;i{!''|^;."i; •••■:;fpf ;•';■, • ''i il ';■,"."•• ■'''■•'•i^i'ii'Ti'''' ?' ■•'■ |';tl' r 'k^iu'h '■■ ' 1 ■•; i' ''li., ^{'.:\ ..'li'iii'i iii'ii.'i; ; ■;1'li' '■■! 1 f''^ .11'!' 'i' , .1 .• I.llll!;:. 1 Mlil. I .' ,t!l! I! •l ^'i fiii:: \>\ \ I .. ■" ,-ii;! m if:i,ii mi ( 44 ) . commander is quite obliterated as foon as the voyage is over. Merit alone gives the title to diftinf^lion ; and the polTefllon of qualities that are held in efleem is the only method to obtain refpedl. Thus a perfon who is an experienced hunter ; one who knows the communication between the lakes and rivers ; one who can make long harangues 5 is a conjurer; or if he has a family ; fuch a man will not fail of being followed by feveral Indians, when they happen to be out in large parties -, they likewife follow him down to trade at the fettlements : he is, however, obliged to fe- cure their attendance upon this occafion by promifes and rewards, as the regard paid to his abilities is of too weak a nature to command fubjedlion. In war a mutual re- fentment againfl their enemies forms their union for perpetrating their revenge. Per- fonal courage, patience under hardships, and a knowledge of the manners and country of their adverfaries, are the quali- fications fought after in the choice of a leader. They follow him, whom they have thus chofen, with fidelity, and exe- cute his projeds with alacrity; but their obedience .nr MMM mtm ( 45 ) obedience does not proceed from any right in the leader to command, it is folely found- ed on his merit, on the afFedlion of his fol- lowers, and their defire of fubduing their enemies. Thefe fentiments adluate every breaft, and augment the union; while in more civilized nations fuch a compadt is ef- fe<5ted by fubmiffion to the laws of govern- ment. Some years fmce, the Company being informed that the Indians frequently brought fine pieces of copper to their fettlements on Churchill River, they took it into confide- ration, and appointed a perfon, with proper affiftants, to furvey and examine the river where this valuable acquifition was fu ppofed to be concealed. The perfon employed in this bufinefs gives the following account of his expedition, which will defcribe the Indian method of going to war. Thefe are his words : " In 62 deg. ^j min. N. '* latitude, and 18 W. longitude, from ** Churchill River, is where we built our *' canoes in 1771 ; there many Northern ** Indians joined us, and finding we were ** intended \. ■*^'•: m rm I m,\a 1! :;;;H^ m^i,^ f"* . ■ it t ' / '•( ! 't'4 "I i ■ ''" '^' . ^ilv'ili'i :.!::■ . ' — ■^' ,!;■ |''i'- ' :';-H;'''i:,!i|! 'WS ;;:i^!^ m ii I'll ;,;,"! ■!,,•■' ii*^:-i:;- ;»i ii.:,: ' I '"r'' t lll. i It!! ■Ml !i!!4i i!P^:|i 1 '> >!!• Il ! .i,:P ^M n' i III jlil >■ ■ .ii "•h I,)!. ■*■■ ■ ?■*■■ ' ■''!'#,';;■. ""If''"!' . K I'll!,' ! ' ■t; : ' '■•,i'Ui' ■/ ■' ■ 'lil'';;;:' ■•'■■■ T'ii;i'i '■ .4i' t ;ti, m : iiHi:; *■** J !l;l. 1, , (It Hi if: HI'!. • III ••if \ , • '0' ■:„■] ;ti;l: lA .li ..(I li) iWi' ii Hl|: i'>': IS ( 48 ) *• ard kill them while afleep. After having •* all their apparatus ready for the enfuing ** (laughter, they began to invoke their dif- ** ferent patronizing agents by the follow- ** ing fuperflition. All the men painted •* the front of their targets, fomc with the ** image of the Sun, others with the Moon^ " others with different kinds of birds and ** beafts of prey, and fome with the images •* of imaginary fairies, which, according •' to their filly imaginations, inhabit the •' elements. By ftrid enquiry into the caufe «* of this fuperftition, I found that each ** man had the image of that agent painted •* on his target which he relied on for fuc- •* cefs in the enfuing enterprize. Some ** were contented with a lingle reprefenta-* " tion, while others (doubtful of the qua- •• llty of any fmgle being) would have their •' targets covered to the very margin, with •* a group of hieroglyphics quite unintelli- *' gible. This piece of fuperflition being •* ccmpleated, we then began to advance •* towards the Efquimaux, The number *• of our company being fo far fuperior to " the five tents of Efquimaux, portended (( no ( 49 ) ** nrt ltf< than a totnl mijflacre, unlcfs kjn#i •* Providence fliould work a miracle In their •' favour. It wasabout ten o'clock in the morn- ** ing, when tlicy made ihcir attack upon their •• unhappy enemies, whom they found fail •* aflecp. In a few minutes the havock was ** begun, myfelf ftandirig neuter in the rear. " Prefently a fcenc, truly fhocking, pre- •* fsnted itfclf to mj view ; for as the Ef- *' quimaux were furprized at a time when ** they thought themfelves in the midfl of •* fecurity, they had neither power nor time •* to make any refinance. Men, women •• and children ran ont of the tents ftark- •* naked; but where could they fly for (hel— ** tcr? They foon fell a iacrifice to Indian fury. The fhrieks and groans of the expir- ing were truly horrible; and it was much increafed by the fight of a young girl, ** about 1 8 years old, whom they killed fo ** nigh to me, that when the firft /pear was *' ftuck into hcf, flie fell down, and twifted ** hericlf about my legs 5 and it was fomc *• difficulty for me to difengage myfelf from •* her dying grafps. As tlie Indians pur- '* fucd her, I folicited for her life> but this D (( Was •Vr- '.'41 M'n'Iii .. ••I,. ,-i:^li i,:'i' f^i^^k^': •:i*l ;'1 II ?!;;>.: ,.,Ii.r 4- '!i'i!i ; ^1 '■J ■ '■Jil i'r'!;' ■ ■*H^^ i Mi;:;; : ( 50 ) ** was To far from being granted, that I was ** not fully afTiircd of my own being entirely ** in lafcty, for offering to fjeak in her be- '* half When I begged her life, the fellows ** made no reply, till they had both their ** fpcars tlirough her, and fixed into the ** ground. They then luui^^.i • fternly in *• the face, :vnd began to upbraid me, a(k- ** ing if I wanted an Efquimaux wife? at ** the fame time paying no regard to the ** flirieks of tlie poor girl, who was then ** twining about the fpears like an eel : in- ** deeJ, I was obliged at lafl to requcft thcni * to be more expeditious in difpatching her out of her mifery, other wife I (hould be ** obliged in pity to adift in that friendly ** ofiice, by putting an end to a life fo mor- ** tally wounded. The terror of mind I '* mull inevitably be in from fuch a fitua- ** tion, is eafier to be conceived than dc- ** fcribed. When this horrid work was *' compleated, wc obferved feven more tents ** on the oppofite fide the river. The ** people belonging to them appeared to ** be in great confuiion, but did not ** offer to make their efcape. The In- ** diuns fired many (hot at them acrofs the ** river, < »«■■ ( 5' ) •* rivcr, but the poor I'-fqiumaux were Co " unacquainted with the nature of guns, '* that when the bullets ftruck the rocks, ** they run in bodies to fee wliat was fent ** them, and feemed curious in examln- ** ing the pieces of lead they found flat- ** tened on the rocks, 'till at lafl one man *• was fliot through the calf of the leg, *' after which they immediately embarked '* in their canoes with their wives andchil- *' dren, and paddled to a Hioal in the river; ** After the invaders had killed every foul ** they could get at, they began breaking ** the flone kettles and copper wurk, which " the Efquimaux make ufeof inflead of iron. ** When this was done, they aflembled on '* the top of a high hill, calling out Tima^ ** Tima, by way of derifion to the furviv- ** ing Efquimaux. We then went up the ** river about half a mile, to the place where ** Our tents and baggage were, with an in- ** tent to cruis over and plunder the other ** feven tents. Il^'taking up a confiderablc ** time for all to crofs the river, and being ** entirely under cover of the rocks, the ** poor Efquimaux, whom we left on the D 2 ^'fhoal; , ■•• 'I • '•«.; :'>^'!l< ^ :. :" •• • S ■ , • • ;? /■J IV, V' ■*'' •■|i.;i;i;:;i iK.li': .., yyy Pi . ■¥■; ^1' I '11! '•' ■..' life::. Vi4.«' "'t <'i mm I'i.r'V.i "'if 'If; ''|)f|!!' '' •' I'll ill' 1 ^)t ill ^iJ:i '■.:'•! :'^| 11' ill'''- ■■''11! !:|,!i' ■ *: , ■ ■■'" i\^* ,>,p ■|!Im:: 1 I ■|K, >!' i:>l'-!;i'i
  • :i .,. ?» :'! /■nil," - -i: 'I'M •*■ ■'!!' "'■ i 1 Mm ,!^! ■;■('( li-il^;.-;'. |(:',;j.p,*Vli '-!•> ' \4 W' fet' I * ,,■( I.,' Mm !;'!,■■ !'• 'I' '■ jr; till iV'i'i'l ■ r'v ! I ...il ■ 4-p:, .'■in. ^■. ■■■■■iiiii^'i -I ;*>i i'il; . ' ..I- I ^:-1v'' 1;.. I'll.!. .-"I. kiu '■'.;(' > ui 1 J- '; km:' ' i. , rill •;• ( 54 ) pens during that revolution of the mooi^. For inftance— January, They call Kee-fha-pou-ur-te- can-um, by reafon of the intenfe cold found at this time. February, Sha-pefhem, or the old moon. March, Mee-kee-fu-a-pe(hem, or the Eagle- moon ; becaufe thefe birds vifit their coafts in this month. Nis-cau-pe(hem, or the Goofc moon. Atheek-a-pefhem, or the Frog moon. Opineou-a-pechem, becaufe moft^ birds are now laying their eggs. Opus-cou-a-pefhem, becaufe the geefe are now moulting their feathers. Opo-ho-a-pe(hem, becaufe the birds are now begin- ning to fly. Septem- April, May, June, JULT, August, ( 55 ) SEPTEMBER,Wuf-ker-hoa-pe{lien),bccaurc the deer arc now fliedding their horns. October, We-fac-a-pefliem, becaufc it is the Rutting fcaibn wjth the deer. November, As-kut-ta-te- iu-a- pediem, this implies that the rivers * are now frozen over. December, Pou-watch-e-can-a-fiih-a-pe- fliem, becaufe the Teverity of the froft makes the brufli fall from the pine-trees. ■> ;•■'' ' ■ V-s.-l . i' •■' /'• '..' . '*' vr: ■:■■ Their method of computing numbers is rather abPrufe, as they reckon chiefly by decades ; as follows :---Two tens, three tens, &c. Ten tens, or an hundred tens. A few units over or under, are added or fub- tradled. Thus, 32 in their tongue is ex- prefled, by faying 3 tens and 2 over; — 37 would be exprefTed by faying, 3 tens and 7 over, or 4 tens wanting three. If they reckon any large number, a fkin or flick is laid down for every ten, and afterwards D 4 tied M ■■■ m .... %V.»S .,■'■'''••*■*{■ ij.SS,}' 'l\-- ii::i;Hi-^ v:' :»;. ''ill' ''!•■ " " ilv.iHi'hii' ;:;', ,;|iH''! m^ '.I ' .•' >it ' K. tJ:.. ■ ";|-i ■!'•■' ;! ■ -til'!! •I '. 1 ■■ •11:, ii ■ri.! "■ ',: 'i:t'':"^'i'- :1'ii|''V i ■';!' . ' 'i,.'l',T' ■: 'ME'-'. |i' >; .1 „•:'!* 1 1. 'n l^i'l^ .•'i ".^■l■ If ( ^6 ) tied in a bundle, for the aggregate of the whole. Before the Canadian merchants purfiied the Fur Trade with fuch diligence as they now do through the Lakes, and had pene- trated into the interior parts of Hudlbn s Bay, a great number of Indians ufed ar- nually to come down to the Company's Settlements to trade their fkins. And thoug^i the Company have now in a great meafurc loft the benefit of this lucrative traffic, it may not be amils to mention the manner in which the Indians profecutc their voyage^ to the Fat^orics. ' In the month of March, the Upland Indians a^femble on the banks of a par- ticular river or lake, the nomination of which had htca agreed on hj common con- fent, before they feparated for the winter. Here they begin to build their canoes, which are generally compleated very loon after the river ice breaks, lliey then commence their voyage, but without any regularity, all ftriving to be fc^moll: i becaufe thofe who iilli.:i't!! ( 57 ) who are firft have the heft chance of pro- curing food. During the voyage, each leader canvafles, with alJ manner of art and diligence, for people to join his gang ; influencing fome by prefents, and others by promlfes ; for the more canoes he has under his command, the greater he appears at the Fadlory* Being come near their journey's end, they all put afhore; the women to go in the woods to gather Pine-brufh for the bottom of the teovs ; while the leaders fmoke together, and regulate the procef- fion. This being fettled, they re-embark, and foon after arrive at the Fadory, If there is but one Captain, his fituation is in the center of the canoes ; if more, they place tiiemfelves on the wings; and their canoes are diftin^uifhed by having a fmail flag h( ifted on a flick, and placed in the flern. • 'I •'. ■ yHy ■■;.■'■'■'''';•.■.■■ ■ ?' ''■'\ ''■ f' When they arrive within a few hundred yards of the Fort, they difchargc their fowling-pieces, to compliment the Englifh; who. •»vj ^^*1 ' n,:.:,4i.: .:" 'iw:::;:,- ... It..;' I^'m'h 'I'm '•i'.i'!,-'. :.' ' •Ic'' ... . ■ ' I . ■i. "■■;"* •ii- ■'iH-'; '.; *M't..l ;:'■■■' '•ii tf;l, .'I..' ,!r,..|;h:;, , ;4f;;.: ( S8 ) who, in return, falutethem by firing two or three fmall cannon. The leaders feldom co.icern themfelves with taking out the bun- dles, but the other men will aflift the wo- men. The Fadior being informed that the Indians are arrived, fends the trader to in- troduce the leaders with their lieutenants, who are ufually their eldeft fons or nearefl relations. Chairs are placed for them to fit down on, and pipes, &c. are introduced. During the time the leader is fmoking, he fays very little, but as foon as this is over, he begins to be more talkative ; and fixing his eyes immoyeablyon the ground, he tells the Facflors how many canoes he has brought, what Indians he has feen, afks how the Englifhmen do, and fays he is glad to fee them. After this the Governor bids him welcome, tells him he has good goods and plenty, and that he loves the Indians, and will be kind to them. The pipe is by this time removed, and the converfation becomes free. During this vifit, the Chief is dreft out at the expence of the Fa(5tory in the follow- ing ■I I IMiWII '>^«^-,«i-»^ >. ^f. ^ M 1 I \\- ( 59 ) ing manner : a coarfe cloth co"* either red or blue, lined with baize, and having regimental cuffs ; and a waiflcoat and breeches of baize. The fuit is ornamented with orris lace. He is alfo prefented with a white or check fl^iirt ; his (lockings are of yarn, one of them red, the other blue, and tied below the knee with worfted frarters : his Indian flioes are fometimes put on, but he frequently walks in his flocking- feet ; his hat i.-; coarfe, and bedecked witl;^ three odrich feathers of various colours, and a worfted fa(h tied round the crown ; a fmall filk handkerchief is tied round his ' neck, and this compleats his drefs. The Lieutenant is alfo prefented v/ith a coat, but it has no lining ; he is likewife pro- vided with a fhirt and a cap, not unlike thofe worn by mariners. The gueils being now equipped, bread and prunes are brought and fet before the Captain, of which he takes care to fill his pockets, before they are carried out to be (hared in his tent ; a two gallon keg of brandy, with pipes and tobacco for him- fclf •• • ,' . ' ■ if': ■ • .* : .1: Vi' ;■■•}. I -Mi ^ ':•• 'v it ■ :•■..!■ ^■•''tif'V ,■.: 'i^mlr ■'• - Pi!! 'HiH'" ■=';••, ".«'■■'' '■' ''W'li;.; •■■■••■ ,jV.t(t!^^j!/;;!■.:^,■ ',1(1 'I'v- ..:■■■:: (■•'vi' '■'■ n:-''' «'!■ mi 1,-, iH'W'i''»i m"- ill! '■"•'H''4 ,;;|:!!'(iJ%': ,M " i' ■' ■ ■.*'•::(', ... ?•*■■"(' •\ ill- .'■... ■|:!ti'i;:..-!.l-a.i: ■'rl r'" I'ii"!;!'!";,, '■ ( 6o ) iclf -^Linl followers, are llkcvvife fet before biin. He is now conduced from the fort to his tent in the following manner : In the front a halbard and enlign are car- ried; next a drummer beating a march; then fcvcnil of the Fadtory fervants bear- ing the bread, prunes^ pipes, tobacco, fenrndy, &c. Then comes the Captain, walking quite ercdt and Hateiy, fmoakhig Ris pipe, and converfing with the Fadtor. iftfter this follows the Lieutenant, or any other friend, who had been admitted into the fort with the leader. They find the lent ready for their reception, and with clean pine brufhand beaver coats placed for them to fit on. Kcre the brandy, &c. is de- ported, and the Chief gives orders to fome refpeifiable perfon to make the ufual diflri- bution to his comrades. After this the Fadlor takes his leave, and it is not long before they are all intoxicated ; when they ^ive loofe to every fpecies of difordcrly tu- mult,, fuch as finging, crying, fighting, dancing, &c. and fifty to one but fome one is killed before the morning. Such sure the fad eiFedts of the vile compofition they \ , ( 6, ) they are furniflied with upon thcfc occa- fions. After continuing in a flate of intoxica- tion, bordering on madnefs, for two or three days, their mental faculties return by degrees, and they prepare themfclves for renewing the league of friendHiip, by imoaking the calimut. The ceremony o£ which is as follows : A pipe made of (lone is filled with Brazil tobacco, mixed witli a herb fomething like European box. The ftem of the pipe is three or four feet long, and decorated with various pieces of lac-e, bears claws, and eagles talons, and iik-c- wife with variegated feathers, the fpoils of the moft beauteous of the feathered tribe. The pipe being fixed to the fteni and lighted, the Fa(flor takes it in both his hands, and with much gravity rifes from his chair, and points the end of the ftem to the Eafl, or fun-rife, then to the Zenith, afterwards to the Wefi:, and then perpendi- cularly down to the Nadir. After this he takes three or four hearty whifFs, and having done fo, prefents it to the Indian leader. ■•■■'.,;♦' • ,n ■■'■•... ,.' ''J \ ■'-'.■'. r.v' ;■■;>■!;'•» I ( •i" !'^ '■:, 4H * : :t Wkr. , >,|,iK „•; •^.i;.I.|T';'i!,ip,.. S.'.;.pBl ■.,,,1 '■ 'P'iii.,- .... I) ■'i. I V 'I;'' '»!, j Nw ''■' ^ 'jv i: ;i 111'. •. yimB '■mm]: ■ li Willi-;! ■! i|'« r'i ' ■ ■ '! ! .1.' ilii' ( 62 ) leader, frbm whom It is carried round to the whole party, the women excepted, who are not permitted to fmoak out of the facred pipe. When it is intirely fmoaked out, the Facftor takes it again, and having twirled it three or four times over his head, lays it deliberately on the table ; which being done, all the Indians return him thanks by a kind of fighing out the word Ho. Though the above ceremony made ufe of by the Indians, in fmoking the calimut, may appear extremely ridiculous and in- comprehenfible, yet when we are made acquainted with their ideas in this refpe6t, tlie apparent abfurdity of the cuftom will Vanifli. By this ceremony they mean to fignify to all perfons concerned, that whilfl die fun (liall vifit the different parts of the world, and make day and night ; peace, firm friendfliip, and brotherly love, fliall be eflablifhed between the EngliQi and their country, and the fame on their part. By twirling the pipe over the head, they further intend to imply, that all perfons of the two nations, wherefover they may be, fliall ( 63 ) (hall be included in the frlendOiip and brotherhood, now conclud^^d or renewed. After this ceremony is over, and a further gratification of bread, prunes, 5cc. is pre- fented, the leader makes a fpccch, gene- rally to the following purport : «* You told me lafl: year to bring manV Indians to trade, which I promifed to do ; you fee I have not lied ; here are a great many young men come with me; ufe them kindly, I fay ; let thctn trade good goods ; let them trade good goods, I £dy I We lived hard lad winter and hungry, the powder being fhort meafure and bad; being fliort meafure and bad, I fay ! Tell your fervants to fill the meafure, and not to put their thumbs within the brim ; take pity on us, take pity oniis, I fay ! We paddle a long way to fee you -, we love the Engl id). Let us trade good black tobacco, moill and hard twifted ; let us fee it before it is opened. Take pity on us ; tike pity on u$, I fay ! The guns are bad, let us trade << (< (C <( and well fliaped, with locks that will not freeze in the winter, and red gun cafes. Let the young men have more than meafure of tobacco ,- cheap kettles, thicks and high. Give us good meafure of cloth ; let us fee the old meafure ; do you mind me ? The young men loves you, by coming fa far to iec you ; take pity, take pity, I fay; and give theirt good goods ; they like to drefs and be fine. Do you underfland me r" As foon as the Captain has finished his fpeech, he, witli his followers, proceed to look at the guns and tobacco ; the former they examine with the moft minute atten- tion. When this is over they trade their furs promifcuoufly ; the leader being fo far indulged, as to be admitted into the trading room all the time, if he defires it. The principal things neceffary for the fup- port of an Indian and his family, and which they ufually trade for, are the following : a gun, ahatehet, an ice ehizel, Brazil tobacco, knives. A cmcifi Account of the Trade to Hudson's Bay, 'LvitL the Method pur- « fued hy the Company in carrying it on. THE fird: adventurers procured a charter from King Charles the Second, for an cx- cludve trade to thefc countries, which is dated May 2, 1670. Prince Rupert was their firft Governor ; the Duke of Albe- marle, Lord Craven, Lord Arlington, and feveral other noble perfonages, conftituted the firfl committee. The tenor of this charter is as full, ample, and comprehen- five, as words can well make it ; and, as if they fufpeded the intrulion of fomc ad- venturers on their territories, to participate in this valuable trade, the moft fevere pe- nalties* with forfeiture of property, are laid on all thofe, who fliall haunt, fre- quent, or trade upon their coalls ; how E far WK.l . ^' ( 65 ) knives, filc5, flints, powder and (hot, * powder horn, a bayonet, a kettle, cloth, beads, and the like. ^.f 11- -,\T ••« I,. J Jit" '■" 1'' r'-UlCli ■;.,','•; v t-j 1^. « '' I... '■'■f ,,''■■' •" ... 'kl i'il ll . ll ll I f lali 111 TITb I I ■■ ..I , ''•■■ll't' I |||||,.|,) ■I -n;)!' :/;,; 3. J ■ ■'■■« iL;, |W ',' "I •l!r^^!j:ii;':i|:i,. 1' fi!:j■|!!;>'"'!• •liPl'vi mfU ■p' :i;i::!'V' "'^r^ii' ( 66 ) « far their fucceflbrs have been entitled to thcfc exclufive immunities, or how far their confined manner of carrying on the trade has proved beneficial to the country, I fliall endeavour to point out ; humbly fub- mitting the obfervations I (hall make, to the candour and impartiality of my readers. The firft traders to thefe parts aded upon principles much more laudable and benevo- lent, than their fucceflbrs feem to have been aduated by. From feveral letters which 1 have read of an early date, they ap- pear to have had the good of the country at heart; and to have endeavoured by every equitable means, to render their commerce profitable to the mother country. Their inflrudions to their fadlors were full of fentiments of Chriftianity, and contained directions for their ufmg every means in their power, to reclaim the uncivilized In- dians from a ftate of barbarifm, and to in- culcate in their rude minds the humane precepts of the gofpel. They were at the fame time admonifhed to trade with them equitably, and to take no advantage of their . < ( 67 ) their native fimpliclty. They were further indru(fled to explore the country, and to reap fuch benefit from the foil and produce thereof, as might redound to the intcrefl of the Englifh nation, as well as contri- bute to their own emolument. And laftly, they were diredlcd to be particularly care- ful in feeing that the European fervants bwhaved orderly, and lived in fobriety and temperance, obferving a proper veneration for the fervice of God, which was ordered to be collectively performed at every fcafon- able opportunity. Thefe were injunctions worthy the ex- alted ftatlons and rank in life of thofe who had the firft direction of the affairs of the Company ; and refledted much honour on their characters, as men and chriflians : and had thefe praife-worthy eftablifhments been adhered to, the coujiitry granted them might at this day have been an ornament to the flate, and a gem in the imperial dia- dem. — But mark the contrail. I A-4 E 2 In (lead ,.;., .),• ■jSl :. »> •'>! wt .;''* wra^ .■;■■•>» Jm ■V '•■'i *w^ L. ,^ ^*y- ..."•V'V. in.' "m ri^: .'» p ■ ., ■ ..^ $4; h: , fy^;|l s > f '• V'fM i . • , ''^^■1JH ?•'■' M,fS ^ ••ivi;h"'r" I i,..i.!»i,':i;t:*''i: '■ ■'' i',]i*'i' I*' .. ■ ■'■■ ■■>•'„. 'K;f: ., ■' ':.,■" ,' ■'■• ' •^.,'''1;;!'" •■"•';■' ■' '■■'^■' • 1^ ■■ ■■' , ■ ■ •■I'i ' ■ ' .,'■•■ ■» ■■ .'7 '.I. H .Ml , ,1' ■tft'i'il'-' ..- 1..; ■■ I Til' ;j I . .»' . . i^jii^H. ■■'"■„:• " \i*'\ r;i:V,: ij,; i k: '•■I I*. i '>'•!" " ; - '■•„ ^ , ' I'' a.. I ^.^ ( 68 ) Inftcad of encouraging the trade, by a mild, equitable, and engaging deportment towards the natives ; — inflead of ingratiat- ing themfelves by affability and condefcen- fion with a harmlefs people, they ufe them with undeferved rigour, caufmg them fre- quently to be beat and mal-treated, although they have come fome hundreds of miles in order to barter their fkins, and procure a few neccflaries to guard againfl the feve- rity of the approaching winter : and this is one reafon why the trade of York Fort has fo materially declined of late years ; the decrcafe has chiefly arifen from ths cruel treatment the Indians generally re- ceive from, the Factors. I rcndcd feven years under one of the (governors of that fettlement, during which time, I can with the greatefl truth de- clare, that the trade yearly decreafed, and that entirely through his repeated bad treat- jnciit ol the Indians. At a time when the inhabitants ot tliis part of America arc unmially diminiHiIng, from the exceflive ufe of fpirituous liquors, and the dirtempcrs incident ( 69 ) incident to the climate; — at a time when they have near them, as rivals in the trade, more induftrious and fuccefsful adventurers, (I mean the Canadian traders ;) it certainly would be more commendable and politic in the Company's fervants, to endeavour to eain the afFedlions of the Indians, by every exertion in their power ; more efpe- cially by condefcenlion, by fair dealing, and by cultivating reciprocal amity between the Company and all the nations they trade with. Another reafon why the Company's trade is io very infignificant, is a total want of fpirit in themfelves, to pufh it on with that vigour the importance of the conteft deferves. The merchants from Canr.da have been heard to acknowledge, that v/ere the Hudfon's Bay Company to profccute their inland trade in a fpirited manner, they niuft be foon obliged to give up all thoughts of penetrating into the country ; as from the vicinity of the Company's flidorics to the inland parts, they can afturd to undcr- Icl them in every branch. n ^.■:^:ii m E3 To ,|1 ■' ■! ■'•■'ill'* '■ .1 V i,l,('"!. ', •I ',: ■..f ■!>. ,itr ' ■i-i'!;-'' ii'i.;; !.>)■; !■ ■ •'■■ "»■■■' ■- ;-ir ]• ! . if' 4. 'V- ( 7° ) To explain this emulation between the Company and the Canadian traders, it will be neceflary to go back a few years, and review the ftate of the Company in the year 1773. About that time the Canadian traders from Montreal, actuated by a laud- able fpirit of induftry and adventure, and experiencing the pecuniary advantages that refulted from their exertions, had become fo numerous and indefatigable at the head of the rivers which lead to the Company's fettlements, that the trade of the latter was in a great rneafurc cut oif from its ufual channel. The Indians being fupplied with every thing they could wifh for at their own doors, had no longer occafion, as they hitherto had done, to build canoes, and paddle feveral hundred miles, for the fake of cultivating a commerce with Euro- peans ; in which peregrination they were frequently expofed to much danger from hunger ; fo much fo, that at one time, feven canoes of upland Indians perifhed oq their return to their own country. Ever ( 7' ) Ever fince the above period, the Ca- nadian adventurers have annually increafed in the upland country, much to their own emolument, and the great lofs of the Com- pany; w^ho, it may be faid, are flecping at the edge of the fea, without fpirit, and without vigour or inclination to aflert that right, which their exclufive charter, ac- cording to their own account, entitles them to. It is true, they have at this time a few eftablifhments in the interior country ; but thefe are carried on in fuch a languid man- ner, that their exertions have hitherto proved inadequate to the purpofe of fup- planting their opponents. Though the fadlors on this employ repeatedly urged the abfolute neceflity of allowing the fer- vants inland, an additional ftipend, it was not till the year a 782, that they could be prevailed upon to give them fifteen pounds per annum -, while the Canadian merchants gave their labouring hands from thirty to forty pounds per year. This ill-timed pariimony, is in the highefl degree impo- E 4 litic ; • j^- :.V 4>. .jm I .3 ,',«'• .4; r "ti;^ •;, "t^.A,- . V ''1. i .' r, I'i '"'••■^ 1 •!-.,' -!.; .^. ( 7* ) lltlc ; for they are obliged to leave a coii- fiderahle quantity of furs inland every year, for want of men to navigate the canoes ; and as thcfc fkins are much accumulated by the next year's trade, ^bcy have always furs to a very conliderable amount, dead and unprofitable on their hands. In the next place, their employing In- dians for this purpofe, helps to compleat the meafure of their flupiditj ; for, after the natives have traded their furs, they are paid to the value of twelve beaver fkins for every bundle taken down to the Fac- tory, and the fame for every bundle of goods brought back. In this manner are they employed for near fix months in the year, and thereby prevented from attend- ing to their hunting excuifions -, in which, during the time they are thus engaged, they might have colleded a good quantity of furs. This is not all ;-— as they fuppofe the Company cannot do without them, they fet a great value on their fervices, and pmit no opportunity of letting the fadlors know. ( 73 ) liiiow, tliat they are able to form a proper clllmate of their confequence. To obviate thefc dilHcultles, the traders from Montreal employ all Canadian fcr- vants, who are in every refpe£t better adapt- ed for the fervice than the indolent Indians. f .■ The Company fignify to their Fadors, that they have an indifpntable right to all the territories about Hudfon's Bay, not only including the Straits and Bay, with all the rivers, inlets, &c. therein, but llkewife to all the countries, lakes, &c. indefinitely to the weftvvard, explored and unexplored. They therefore fligmatize the Canadian merchants with the infulting epithets of pedlars, thieves, and interlopers ; though the quantity of fuys imported by themfelves bears no comparifon to thofe fent from Ca- nada. If this unbounded claim, to which they pretend, be founded upon juftice, why, in the name of equity, do they not afTert thefe pre ten lions by a proper application to Parliament to remove the induflrious ped- lars, whom they would feem to look upon witl) U V ' iw 1^ •^mmMI ■ <-^ ,..w"i"' i L*''i^l';|i: -, ■ , ■i''vi..''.'',., ■ .1. t' ». i J,^* '^ ■ 'f!'!,;"! ;1 •i:a,|'. ■',,;■■■■> ■' I, •■■>i .... • • ■:3-ltJ'., I ::-f^-^:i;';:'!:;,''. Ill"" ;^^i;;:!f:.A:r ( 74 ) with fuch inefTible conten t, and prevent their any longer encroaching on their ter- ritories ', but the fhock they received from the parliamentary application of the pa- triotic Mr. Dobbs, in the year 1749, has given them a diftafte to parliamentary inquiries. They know the weaknefs of their claim, and the inftability of their pre- tcnfions ; it is therefore their intereft to hide from an inquilitive and deluded nation, every invefllgation which might tend to bring to light the futility of their proceed- ings. If the Canadian traders can adduce any profit to themfclves by profecuting this inland bufinels, what are not the Hudfon's Bay Company enabled to do, with every tidvantage on* their fide ? The former pay their fervants four times the falary which the latter do ; the difficulties and dangers they have to encounter are much greater ; the diflance from Montreal to the interior country is immenfe ; fo that when put in competition with the advantages and con- veniences of the Hudfon's Bay Company, they will not admit of the flightell com- parifon. I • ( 75 ) parifon. The goods which the latter land in the country in Augud:, arc rcaliz d in London the enfuing autumn ; whereas the Canadian merchants are always two years in advance ; the goods which are fcnt from Montreal in May, making no returns in the London piarket till two years after- wards. if ' f Notwithftanding they have fo many ob- flacles to furmount, the following account of the furs imported from Canada in 1782 will (hew of what value this trade is to the nation, and the indefatigable induftry of thofe who carry it on. According to the Huafon s Bay Company's method of bringing all kinds of furs into beaver, the total amount of the fkins imported, by this valuation is 281,403, which fold for 127,4231. 7s. 5d. By this calculation it appears, that the Hudfon's Bay Company do not import, from ail their fettlements, fo many furs in four years, as thefe poor pedlars do in one. JU (M^ ,^ Sp^ \m K -"'M ' i| L^lf dri m '^ -K* ' ^jp W-Hi mmm ^H w - ^ ^^1 R.* ''.*v ^^H R* ' -f H ■i'M ^ Sk' • ■,..'••?' ; „ ;;,^|l^■,,■ll,•(•l.l"! ' '.i''"^ .1'' ""'"'''i' ' , • V!.;|.. ife'i.4';:,wi,;;'' ,; :^"ir' ( 76 ) In the courfe of the inquiry in 1749, it appeared by papers laid by the Company before the Honour? hie Houfe of Commons, that their original ftock had been from time to time augmented, as underneath. 1676. Oft. 16. It appeared by their books that their ftock then was 10,500 1690. Sept. The fame being trebled, is 31,500 1720. Aug. 29. Their flock being again trebled, is 94,500 A iubfcription was then taken at 10 per cent. amounting to - . « 3»KO Dec. 23. which being doubled, is m 6,300 £••03.950 m iM^'r ■' t ■•1 .;. ■'■ .: .•■ Ml ! • , r'y>'i %u A'- A- ;|- ■,.' •■ . . i' * ■•■ '-f » I„. I'. ^ List tf * ( 77 ) A List of the Proprietors of Stock at that Time, I '••* • ■ •■ • .»; ., The King's Most Dame Mary Al>ner Mrs. Sarah Afliurft Mrs. Sarah Ainfworth Mr. Thomas Aflley Mr. James Afton Mrs. Charlotte Batt Mrs. Ofmond Beavoir Mr. Samuel Bennet Dr. William Berryman Charles Berryman William Gould Mary Hud fnd Mrs. 1 h'linanus Beieiis lleniy UtiliLiI Uu^|«Ht(e^ Mrs. Sarah Uearrliffe I'dwnrd Hciiinahy, llfqi Rev. Daniel Ueumaby Mrs. Ilaniiali Brillow Mr. i'lKmiM-. 11111 Mr, Peter Hudfbn Sir Edward Hulfe, Bart. Samuel Jones, Eiq; Captain John Jacobs Thomaj Knapp, Efq; Excellent Majesty. Sir Atvvell Lake, Bart« William Elder ton Bybye Lake, Efq; Mr. William L^npidge Mr. John Loton Mr. John Perry Mr. George Love Mr. John Anthony Mferlr John Merry, Efq; Robert Monv, Klq; Mr. Robert Manning Mrs. MiryButtcrficId Alexander Campbell, Efq; John Carew, Efq; Mrs. Elitabcth Carow Mr. Kdmund Chifliule Mr. John Collet HenryCorneys, Efq; Cooper Speeke, ETq; George Speeke, Efq; Mr. Abraham Crop Rev. Mr. John Dahon Richard Dalton John Dalton Mr. tS'-'A ■c 1 T (•'111' ,' 1'' *.;i; "'.ifit'm!. ' ■wIr; '.,:". '"■'„, Mi: :i • .,„' ■ ' .: ■•! ", •■ ill "I 'in"""' ,(..15 "''-Ir ^ ,r;|:' it ''}; ■■■ 111-:::: It' If I i";'ii '■•]•.,;.■ =11;! .11 ^vi, ( 78 ) Mr. William tiler ton Peter Elcrs, Efq; Mr. Thomas Elcrtoit George RIers, Efq; JMr. lOiac Fr.-inks Mr. Francis Goilling Charles Gollling, Efq; Mr. James Gould Mr. Nathaniel Gyles Mr. Heniy Hall Sir Thomas Hankey, Kat. Mr. Samuel Herring Mr. Francis Snell Henry Sperling, PLfq; Richnrd Spooner, Efq; Mr Joiiii Stanionder Mr. Henry Sykes 'J'homas Thorpe, Efq; Mark Hurfton, Efq; Mr. Lodowick Mansfield' Mrs. Ann Mitchell Mr. Benjiupin Mitchell Mrs. Jane Parker Mr. John Pitt Rev. Mr. John Perry Mrs. Mary Perry Mrs. Elizabeth Per/ Mrs. Ann Pcry Mr. John Pery Mr. Samuel Herring Mr. John Prickard Samuel Pitt, Efq; Mr. William Pollon Mr« Thomas Reynard Dr. Henry Rayner Samuel Remnant, Efqi Mr. Rowland Rogers Mr. Daniel Rolfe Mr. Nathaniel Saundcrfoil Mr. Albert Shafter Mr. John Shaw Captain James Winter Mr. James Watts Mr. William Tower Mrs. Mary Ward Mr. George Wegg Samuel Wcgg, Elq; George Wcgg, Elq; Mr. Jcifi'ph Winter. ■■ 'I : I ; ,, ! , . m^,y An ( ?9 ) At Account of the Hudson's Bay Company's Exports at 'Trading Coods^ and Charges attending carrying on their Tradey onj maintaining thi FuSloritsfor Ten yean. ■:l .; Trad ing Goods < 3nly » FaAories, &c. Anno c- s. a. Anno C s. «f. 1739 • 3477 8 5 «739 - 12.245 14 9 1740 - 405 * 14 5 1740 - 13,346 9 3 1741 4028 8 3 1741 - 11 7J7 10 b 1742 - 3618 '5 11 1742 - 12,084 3 >743 - 3613 «3 1743 - 12,772 S »744 - 4"?2 16 II 1744 - 20,201 13 II 1715 - gSio 5 2 »74> - 21,702 <> 1746 - 3390 8 5 1746 - 19.360 I 1 4 1747 - 3H3 18 4 »747 - 16,609 13 4 1748 - 3453 2 7 1748 Faflor yCh. »7.352 4 •57.432 »4 10 3<5,74» II 5 4 — — Tra.Goods 3b,7fi 11 5 Com.s inn. »94.'74 5 9 19.1 1; 8 6 j^munt of the Company' i Exports for Ten Tears, £• s. d. 1739 4994 5 10 1740 5630 10 II 1741 561Z II 4 1742 4007 »743 4894 II II 1744 - 6736 9 1745 5462 •9 6 1746 5431 7 11 1747 - 458' 8 7 1748 5102 12 9 3 52.4'^3 i ■■' - , ',■• « • ■ , V -^ t ^ ^ ^' M ■^'k. ^. .0.*. \ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET {MT-3) // ^t^ •y,^ <''^.i^ Wa 1.0 I.I |^|28 |2.5 I !^ ilia 1^ 1^ 12.0 1.8 1.25 { 1.4 1.6 «■ 6" ► ^ P'i^ C^^ 'V > -%''^f^ ^"^ 7 ^. ^^ A ^'V^ v. Hiotographic Sciences Coiporation 23 V/EST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^ k ^ V •i'"'i '"■"■' ■■"■"■ ■•V(f:ii.v .,. •■'■!i;';^V:.'-'':rl' '■('■'^,:i;.l««''-'i'., '",. . (I " *' I- . ^■■■•■-'.•In'-,: ■■ . .v-ivia!;':' ;.«"•••-■ ^ ill • '»' , " " 'I ■ V I* ■ "'•' ' 'Xi ■ I.,;:' ' ■ ■;ia.'.:":r/i , ,,|i' . I ■'."■' 1-1. ■f!:. 'r\: A^ .; -i: ill :■'■' ''■ 'V:h';,'-|.:: 'i .',1;,"..'. ' ,..|i,M ',,■-;,■ .. ■ i 'lii", ' ''' ' ""■.■ ' i-i- ^'il' i.l:' M ■>'■' "' ' ■■ 1 '1, I.. ..,„:.. '' .*, 1^ ■ -'I'V*;'' 'n';i w:n ( So ) If thefe accounts are faithful, and wc are not to fuppbfe a fet of gentlemen would at- tempt to impofe a fallacy on that augufi: Affembly, the dividends of the Hudfon's Bay Company mufl have been very fmall indeed -, as will appear from the following recapitulation of expences, 6cc. from i739 to 1748 includve. Ch.irges of Shipping, ]^?.clorics. Servants 7 Wages, .!vic. in ten years - j '57'432 14 4 Exports in that time 52,463 9 o Total Ex'penccs - 209,896 3 4 Amount of the ieveral Sales 2~^,^i\.z 18 8 Clear Profits from the Trade in Ten Years 63,646 15 4 I li Dividends in One Year amone 100 Pro- 1 ^ ^ ^ ^ - € 6,364 13 6 pnetors - - j 'j -»- J For each Proprietor - 63 12 it If" then they could not afford to divide more than this, in the very zenith of their profperity, how inconfiderable mufl: their gains have been of late years, fmce the Canadian traders have penetrated the interior country ! Their expences have increafed in a threefold proportion, and their importations have 3 i8 4 8 '5 4 13 6 12 It ( 8' ) h&ve decreased at lead one third fince the ahove period. 3y way of elucidating this aflertlon, I ihall juft ftate the difference of maintaining York Fort at prefent, and the expences at- tending the fame at the time the above en- quiry took place. York Fort at this time has four fubordi- nate fettlements; at which fettlements^ con- jointly^ the Company allow 100 fervants, whofe wages amount to about 1860I. per annum; beiides a (loop of 60 tons, that makes a Voyage once a year between York Fort and Severn Fadories. To difcharge thefe expences, they receive upon an average from them all about 25000 fkins. In the year i748> the complement of men at that fettJement was no mbre than twenty-five* whofe; wages amounted to 470I. per annum, and the trade then flood at 30,000 fkins one year with another. The other eflabiifh- ments which the Company maintain in the Bay, have fuffered the like proportional F change. r ,■ •■5 ■ ■ 'V JV.Cf; .' .*l • .-,j.y..f.-. •i ■;•!, ■-■!'■►, "'•"5," ■'''": 'ii.; '»•« .," '■' ■ •a" »■'•■''' ■■ :'■":': fr ' ■,■ " '■)• ^ '■< ■' ,'!>?•.''.;'■''. 'ii;^^' ,"•■■1 :•■:■■ '!|>' J ■'■••'' ,':lf;i'i;-,l-J.:. . f ■|,.:|*.«1! '' 1 V- ■:«i«5:-;'l'^ii ■■':.. ( 8i ) change, all decreafing in trade, and bearing additional incumbrances. It muft be obferved, that the calcula- tions in the annexed Table, with many others, were compulfively produced be- fore the Houfe of Commons. It is not the inclination of the Company, that the minuteft matter relating to their trade lliould be expofed to public view. They do not even allow their fadors to know what the furs fell for in London, for fear that inquifitivenefs, to which mankind are prone, ihould lead them to fpeculate, and draw inferences on matters which the lords of the foil deem their own feparate prero- gative. But the ftation I was in while I refided in the Bay, enabled me to know for a certainty, that the quantity of furs im- ported of late years has fallen very fhort of their former imports ; though it is allowed they fell better now than at a prior period. As it was the ardent wifh of Arthur Dobbs, Efq. and his friends, by inftituting this parliamentary inquiry, to hy the trade open wO the nation at large ^ fo it was equally the "^0 face Pa^eti, searing- I ^^ ^'OR TEN YEARS. d. 5 H dj. '' d. ■^'+ 5 i:f do. '"9 '2 -I do. 3^' " 7i do. ^^3 6 5.. J,. 3°° '9 zl do. Vo ro o = 9 3 o = ''7 4 2 5433 I o|. ■^'-^ » 2 p./fcl " I '^ j '3'4 2 -J D rt- '* 4 8 A » 7 r-flJ ° M do.. , -^-_ : — — 11^- -00 ,s J --^-^ ' ^° ' 1 d..l ^C-3-o 5 9 =4,S4f, . 2 3^,>fb 5 ,, ■;^^::^:.; • ■» ' /* ^* ■.V, -.*■' -^ ' ■•'• .» v.; • ' -■ f* ..:«■;■- H H /■*\v , '■■ ■! S •;?*'• ■ V , •- • .■y'l •', ^ '., V-'Ai-' , _ -^ ^^ '■S :"•■ ■^^31 . I.' h i:^^':- ' AN ACCOUls OF THE IMPORTS OR SALES OF THE HUDSON'S BAY ( l^indsof Skins, &c. Ifavtr Skins iLrtins ^ri ill lOXfS tolvcriiiG ps foKtj I'oodlhocks L Iter iJ-feathcrS kiloi'um |ry lhj|( dm inks iA' Oil and Clubber lia? luirrii Kcfuckapiika |«r Skin? «ft Quillj Total From Miiliadnu* To Michaelmas | To Mich; iclmai To Mich. telmas 1738 to 1739. 1740. 1741 • 1742 . i. J. i. d. }. H. 1. J. 69911 (.-.'5 5-Jp.fli 69911^/5 8 p.lkl 58664 ar 5 7|p.- 239s I i|p.lb 2908 I oip.ib «i 6 I do. 42 C^- do. lie 9 72 ^3* 170 13 2| do. 1C4 II 3 do. 207 2 9| do. Si3 a 8 do* 2 4 p (k 630 I io| dj. 149 » 43 2 ii| do. p./k S i23gall.743- 17 i. 64954"' 5 3 P-'k 61350^; '2555 5 9 do. 14906 834 7 8J do. 596 I 1273 10 io| do. I118 I 312 7 7^- d^. 4-*3 I 719 5 5 1 d). 775 ioi 16 8i do. 335 * 973 J7 9:t do. 1S85 i< 5« II iJo. 43 I 18 6 1 do. 130 ( 9S0 2 ci do. 440 ; 2331 I p.lb. 3228 161 u i| do. 152 i< 679 I II do. 496 : i3 2 8 p.fK 14 ' I tm lit iSl 33. 5 tons 4 a 8 p.ik 5 : 127 < 8 ( 4lb. 2 4 p.lb 51b. 2| do. 26 8c4 19 7 ' 29,785 : c o u N t F T H E )ON's BAY COMPA Wy for ten years. Michaelmas To Mich aclmas '743- 1744. s. ^. i. J. 4 "'5 3 p.fk 6 1 350 ar 5 7|p.i)< 5 5 9 do. 14906 6 3l do. 4 7 8i do. 596 13 6 do. 3 lo lo-J do. 1118 15 9 do. 2 7 7i dn 4-^3 1 1 5> do. 9 5 5| d). 775 5 ii| no. I i6 8i do. 335 3,3 6 do. 3 J7 9:t do. 1S85 i3 ii| do. O II o iJo. 43 II 2 do. 8 6 X dj. 130 6 1 do. o a ci do. 440 2 11^ do. I I O p. lb. 3228 I l|p.Ib I II i| do. I5Z 10 4-1 do. 9 I II do 496 2 c| do. 3 2 8 p.fK 14 3 p.fk o6 15886 529 5 5 8^ do. 6i do. '^555 834 5 7 9 do. 8j do. 14906 596 6 '3 3i d^'- 6 do. 18992 903 Jo. 991 1 1 2 do. 1273 10 io| do. 1118 15 9 do. 1403 Jo. 4'9 8 1 1| do. 312 7 7:^'. 443 1 1 Si do. 563 Jo. 685 5 9$ d"« 719 5 5 1 d.. 775 5 11^ no. 760 Jo. 359 n 5.} do. 301 16 8^ do. 335 *3 6 do. 33. Jo. 63o 12 7| do. 973 i7 94 do. 1S85 18 ii| do. 761 lo. 48 3 I do. 50 II LO. 43 II 2 do. i3t io. 439 6 I do. 18 6 I dj. 130 6 1 do. 20 lo. 637 2 3 J do. 9C0 2 C;^ do. 440 2 11^ do. 26. .lb 2908 I olp.ll 2331 I op. lb. 3228 I ap.ib 384s lo. 1C4 ti 3 do. 161 II I J do. 152 10 4v do. 279 b. J49 I iii| do. 679 I 11 do • 496 2 c| do. 302 Dit 43 2 p./k i3 2 8 p.fk 14 3 p.(k 1. 8j. 9 3 ton »7 I s pflt 30. ' **> — S 2 2 p.(k 4 2 8 p.flc 5 3 4 p.fk 6 __. 276 4^- dj. 127 4^ do. 2070 " — lOhJs. 4jdo. 4lb. 51b. 2 4 p. lb 2| do. S 9 do. 40 9200 1 22,9 1 57 I 8 26 8c4 1 9 7 1 29.7 Js . 9 3 30,1 |p^ 7- tW. „ ,::iJ;-' >' im\M'- rn-J.:^iM ( 83 ) the defire of the Company Aill to enjoy thofe profits, by which they had benefited then;- felves for fo many yeors. T accomplifh this flattering end, they left no (lone un- turned, no evidence unproduced, which might tend to confirm them in this mono* poly. Accordingly, the teflimony of feveral witnefies was not admitted, there being reafon to believe that they had been tam- pered with by the Company. It is not then to be fuppofed, that any papers were laid before the Committee of the Houfe of Com- mons, but fuch as helped to fupport thcie pretenfions, invalidate the teflimony of their opponents, and fcreen from the infpedioii of the people the evil of their proceedings, as a commercial Company. To exhibit at one view a Aate of their feveral eftablifhments in the Bay at prefent, I fubjoin the following table. 1;: i^X '■I'BII'j 5^4. ■■ [urchin rk Fort hrnHoafe }any Fort Dfe Fort Lat.N. Long.W. Trade on Averjge. 59 c 57 to 56 12 52 18 51 28 53 24 94 3^ 93 oc 88 57 33 J5 78 5c 10,000 > 25,000 5,60c I 7,oco 47,6oci Indian I Ships con- Sloops In the No. of Settlcm" ligncf) t > serv. 240 'i • i .^ K^* -#.1 ; ^;;'* if.;/.Vt'<' '< j tr '1-' \i x I.V ( 84 ) A Standard of Trade, by which the Go- vernor, or Fadtor, is ordered by the Com- pany to trade with the natives. N.B. This is intended to keep up the appearance of a regular fettled plan of trade; but though this farce may be played off to thofe who have not had the opportunities of knowing the deception, it will not have that efferricc lace Rings brafs Files Tobacco boxes Awl blades Boxes barrel Hawks bells Sword blades Ice chiflels Gun w#rms Hats coarfe yd. No. b lias 3 I I 8 3 pr. 12 No. I 1 4 I Trunks fmall leather i i Needles Hatchet Brandy Medals Thimbles Collars brafs Fire fteels Razors Thread la I gall. I No. 12 6 I 3 3 lb. X ay. P ( 85 ) Notwithftanding this pretended Standard is in itfclf fufficicntly hard upon the Indians, and difcouraging to the trade, yet the Fac- tors, and the Company, in conjundlion, do not think it (o ; for out of this a pernicious overplus trade muft be raifedj which, as Mr. Robfon juflly obferves, is big with ini- quity, and ftriking at the very root of their trade as a chartered Company. It is in- tended to augment the emoluments of the Governor, at the expence of juftice and com- mon honefty. It oppreffes the Indian, who lives a moft wretched life, and encounters ^ variety of difficulties, cold, hunger, and fatigue, to procure a few neceffaries for himfelf and indigent family. This Overplus trade, as it is called, is carried on in the following manner ; for in- ftance; fuppofe an Indian would trade ilb. of glafs beads, it is fet down in the ftand- at 2 beaver fkins; but the confcientious trader will demand 3, or perhaps 4 beaver fkins for it ; if the Indian afks for a blanket he muft pay 8 beavers ; and if he would purchafe a gallon of brandy, he muft give after if." ■ . m ]•'■• , 1 ■*»■»■■.• ■■■."a; •■ [i , If ' ''i ' •¥::^ ( 86 ) after the rate of 8 beaver (kins for it, as it is always one half, and fomctimes two thirds water. The confequence of this griping way of trade is in the end very hurt- ful to themfelves, as the Canadians, in the interior country, underfell them in every article. If this were the only means which the traders purfued in dealing fo unjuftly by the natives, fo many ingenuous and well- informed writers would not have taken up their pens to expofe the Company and their their fervants, upon account of this uncon- fcionable profit on their goods. It is worthy of notice, that among all thofe who have written on the fubje(5t, not one has at- tempted to vindicate the Company from the numerous and juft complaints, which have from time to time been alledged againft them. It would be unreafonable to fuppole they all are influenced by prejudice, or actuated by chimerical illufions : No ! the love of truth, and a facred regard for their country, appears to me to be the only fource from ( 8/ ) from whence ill'uc fuch repeated comphilius of mifcondii(i>. It is to obferved, that the Beaver Skin is the meafure by which the Company value every kind of peltry, 6cc. in trading with the Indians, as will be feen by the following comparative valuation, which is annually inferted in their Account Books, but which is no more adhered to than the preceding ilaiidard. A Valuation, &c. V It , beav. beav. full grown moofe fkin I as 2 Cats fkin I as z Cub ditto I I Otter old parchment 1 1 Old bears I 3 Ditto cub and drell 2 I Cub ditto I I Martins prime 2 I Foxes black I 4 Ditto ordinary 3 « Ditto grey I 3 Deer buck I I Ditto white 2 I Ditto doe 2 I Ditto red I I Mufquafh 6 1 Ditto brown 2 I Goofe feathers lb. lO 1 Wolf I 2 Ditto quills No. 200 O 1 Wolverins X 2 Caftorum lb. 2 1 Here f -• * V' ■ . '» * ' .* n » 1 V t [■ » \ .»■; '■■-f'.''..-.: ■>■«:( ■■''■ "i mm' L;. %,' r&f. '■■••■:■ I ?, ■ 'Til > ( 88 ) Here again the fador has an ample field to outdo the natives in cunnings and to ex- hibit an unprincipled propenfity to augment his own private and perfonal emolument, For infl^nce, a quart of brandy by the Com-, pany's ftandai , (hould be valued at one beaver fkin, but by being one half water, the price is made two beaver fkins, which is equal in trade to a wolf, wplverin, or cat fkin ; but the trader will inform the Indian, that each of thefe ffcins is but of the fame value as one bpaver -, fo that after he has gained one beaver by the iniquitoi^s adulteration, he gains anor ther in the fame article by trading it for any fkin that is valued at one more than thq beaver fkin. The fame unfair dealing is pradifed throughout every branch of the trade, fp that it would be fuperfluous to produce other examples. Let it fuffice to ftate the value p£ a gallon of Englifh fpirits in London, and the return it makes at the fame market. The Company pay at the rate of 2od. a gal- lon ; this, according to the foregoing man- ner of trading, produces eight beaver. fkins, weighing ( 89 ) weighing abput lolb. v/hich, at the medium of 1 2S. per lb. amounts to 61. flerling -, — a very conlidcrable profit truly on the fam of is. 8d. But even this is fometimcs exceeded ; for fuppofing a gallon of brandy traded for otter fkins, the gains are flill more confiderable, the return then vvrill be about 81. fterling. A four-penny comb v/ili barter for a bear's (kin, which is worth 2I. From all which it appears, that the enor- mity of their tranfadtioiis in trade is as ijicon- fiftent with their chara(n:ers as nierchahts and Chriftians, as it is diametrically oppofite to found policy. li '■' « . '' The Governors have a cuftom of trufting the natives in the fall of the year with goods to the amount of a certain number of beaver fkins, whicji they are to repay with furs in the fpring of the year, when the river ice breaks up. But it fometimes fo happens, that the In- dian has had bad luck in hunting ; misfortunes by dea^^ or other cafualties may have hap- pened tu nis family ; or perhaps he has fallen in ^e way of the Canadian traders, the temptation of t .<* .-■ .■'■» *.* 'V' t ;..■',». •'A' ■;■'■ ^'•" , ■J '-1 J :*'>';!': ■ • ;■!;' r ''Ml-" : I Ma ' »• >' ■^ '•!:: :'■,"'* -.ii;.! "■ ( 9° ) of whofe fplrituous liquors he has not been able to rcfiit, and confequently he had parted with his furs for their commodities, which he could get much cheaper than at the Company's fettlements -, — in this cafe, when the unfortunate Indian arrives at the Fadlory, which he is neceflitated to vifit or ftarvc^ he is reduced to fuch poverty, that perhaps he has not a rag to cover his nakednefs, or the leafl property to procure one necefTary article. Though this misfortune falls very heavy on tiie diflrclfed Indian, the fole exiftence of whofe funily depends upon his being provided with hunting accoutrements, fuch was the ob- duracy of the Governor of York Fort, before referred to, that whenever it happened, he was fo far from fympathizing with the un- happy favage, that he frequently not only 'upbraided but beat them moft cruelly. This, however, was ufually productive of no good effeftj for the Indian, not infenfible to the injury he had received, went away burning with revenge, and ready to retaliate, when- ever it might be in his power. ^ In confequence of this tyrannical ufage, the trade gradually fell off, where the + ' above il' T ' ^^•- ( 91 ) above perfon refided, and through his mifcon- dudt, the interefl of his mafters, has been much injured; the Indians taking their furs to other fettlements. Upon thefe occafions, by far the greater part of them reforted to the Canadians trading inland, by which means the trade was diverted to another channel, and the opprefler as well as the Company paid dear for his unfeafonable flights of paflion. The Indians are a free people, inhabiting a country of vaft extent ; which country they fay is their own, and that we come to them for the fake of trade. They are exceedingly fufceptible of injuries received, and not very prone to forgivenefs ; confequently this man was but little ejfleemed by them. Nor was Jie more refpedled by thofe who were fo unfortunate as to ferve under him. His difpofition was vindid"ive and unfociable, to the lafl degree. Englifli as well as Indians felt the weight of his opprefTivc temper, which ' difFufed its corroding effedl to every pbjedt. Domeflic happinefs was a ftranger to his table, and his mefmates lived a mofl unhappy •Aim.'-' B^W^ I. I!' /: •'>.-■ gwfii:'-';:"*- r * >al ••' J. *i- > ■, •'; 5* ¥■ ( 92 ; unhappy life, under the ^od of this unre* lenting tafk-maftcr. Another fevere ftroke which the Com-, pany has lately fuftained, will be an infuper- ahle bar to their riling to their former prof- perity, for many years to come, were there no other obftacle in the way^ I mean the ravages which the fmall-pox has made among the Indians. That epidemical and raging diforder has fpread an almoft univerfal mor-^ tality throughout the country in the interior parts of Hudfon's Bay, extending its deftruc- tive effedts through every tribe and nation^ fparing neither age nor fex. It is fuppofed that it was introduced among them by fbm^ of their war parties during the fummer of 7781 ; and by the fall of the year 1782, it had diifufed itfelf to every known part of the country. The diftrefles of the Indians by this vifita^ tion have been truly deplorable, and demand the tribute of pity from every humane perfon. As thv"- fmall-pox had never before been among th^;m, and they were utter ftrangers lo the malignity of its infedtious property, they \^-: ( 93 ) they at fir ft imagined it to be no more than a fimple breaking out on the fkin which would dilappearofitfelf J but it was not long befora they had every reafon to entertain very alarm- ing apprehenfions. Numbers began to die on every lide ; the infe<5tion fpread rapidly j and hundreds lay expiring together without afiiftance, without courage, or the leaft glim- toiering hopes of recovery ; for whfia . an in* dian finds himfelf fick, he refigns himfelf up to a ftate of infenfible ftupefadlion, which hinders him from ufing even thofe means I that may be in his power, towards removing the caufe of his malady. And as the uncertainty of a favage life is fuch, that perhaps he may be one day exult- ing in the midft of plenty, and the next day pining under the dillrefs of penury and want j to add to their affliction, they were now de* prived of all manner of fupport* Without the leaft medicinal help, or that common aid which their cafe demanded, a prey to hunger and difeafe, thefe forlorn Indians lay in their tents expiring, under the accumu- lated weight of every fcourge which human nature mk. ' ;i«;»is 1 :^^:^ 1 ^^t' , ^: '*■?*' • ■. , <- !,?•»)'•• I. w ■■■;•' iV,; ( ^4 ) nature can e)cperience. Wolves and other wild bead infefted and entered their habita- tions, and dragged them out, while life yet remained, to devour their miferable morbid carcafes ; even their faithful dogs, worn out with hunger, joined the ferocious wolves iii this unnatural depredation. Heads, legs and arms, lay indifcriminately fcattered about, as food for the birds bf the air and the beafts of the mountains : and as none were buried, thd very air became infedlious, and tended to waft about the baneful contagion. Such has been the fate of many of the tribes inhabiting thefe parts, and which has nearly terminated in their extindion. Of courfe the trade of the Company mufl have experienced a very con* fiderable diminution. It is worthy of remark, that this diforder proved more deilrudive among the Indians, than was ever known to be the cafe among civilized people ; by the moft moderate cal- culation, it was computed that fcarce one in fifty furvived it. But what is ftill more worthy of attention is, that thofe among , them rr- t 95 ) them who were defcendcd from Edropeah^, had much milder lymptuins, and generally recovered. A Few Reflections on the CoMpanvV Trade, Jhcwing in what manner it 7nny be Improved to the Advantage of the Na-ion, AS I have been very unrefervcd In my re- marks on the Company, and reprobating their confined manner of carrying on their trade, it is but reafonable that I fhould point out thofe means by which it may be improved. either to the advantage of the community at large, or for the more confined emolument of the prefent pofTeiTors. '}#- ... %L I own it may appear prefumptuous in me, were I to pretend to did:ate to a fet of gen- tlemen, who, by having this bufinefs imme- diately under their care, know, or at leafc ought to know, every fource from whenc« a profit is to be drawn, or emolument railed, in the ext^nfive country to which they claim a . / right. ■ ■ ■)! ■ I, '■ 'i 1 ,*.. >4 •iv^ ■ 'I'iJi''. ... , ( '.»/•■• ■^\ i'iil: ■■ ■'■ •'■■■,% I [ -T ■ Mi >- I ,,1 ,' .J ;■:' - iX, ,' fi '''"'m rT' ■^ jS 1 rvJ.^ f«^: 1' *;■«.. ■;^ '].. 1 : ' u t "• ■-■ 4i ■'■.. 1 ' ( 9» ) right. I muft however beg kaV6 c^didly to lay before the public fuch circumftances relative to the country and the trade, as 1 know to be groundcid in truths even though I do not entertain the moft diftant hope of feeing them ever beiiefited by the numerous treafures which lie abforbed in this unculti- vated waflc. It will, I doubt not, ieem very myfterious to the generality of people, that this country fhould pofTefs riches in itfelfj and the Com-> pany not turn them to their advantage, when they alone are to reap the benefit of their exertions. People will naturally be led to conclude from their condudt, that what writers have faid on this fubjedt is devoid of truth, and mere chimeras; but this is for Want of knowing the peculiar views of the! Company, their afredtion for their long fof-* tered monopoly, and that fiiigular obfcurity which invelops their whole conflitution ; all which it is the purpofe of my prefent publi* cation to lay open* To unravel this aflertion which appears Co problematical, it will be necefTary to exhibit the ( 97 ) « the line of cdndudl which has been invariably purfued by the Company for many years part. They do not, I am well afllircd, en- tertain the leafl: doubt, but if the country they poflefs was properly explored by perfons of ability, valuable difcovcries might be made ; but this they think may be foJar fr-^ni redound- ing to their intereft, that it might have a con- trary effed:, by encouraging adventurers to pe- tition for liberty to partake of thefe difco- veries, and thereby occafion an inveftigation to take place, which would probably /hake the foundation of their charter. This is not all ; as their Company confifls at prefent but of feven perfons ; this fmall number wifely think, that fo long as they can fliare a comfortable dividend, there is no occalion for their embarking in additional expences, in order to profecute difcoveries which might tranfpire to the world, and endanger the whole. * Nothing is more clear to me than that thefc gentlemen follow their trade to Hudfon's Bay, without any legal authority from the three eftates of the realm. The ad of Par- G liament 'Mm ■I ■'■'('•J-i'M< ^■¥m ; r:. . t V ■\. v.; ■■■ . . 1« ■ > |''.'/i.-.';!r'i '■■ '•■■"li^'' - "■?•■. L'-. ( 98 ) 1 lament which made them a Company for' fevcn yean only, lias long fince expired, and from that period it has never been renewed. But even luppoiing their firft and only char- ter, granted by King Charles the Second, was intended to incorporate them for ever, they liavc undoubtedly forfeited every juft pretcn- fion they could draw from thence, by the ill life they have made of this royal favour. Tlie limits of the Bay and Straits (as before obfcrved) comprize a very confiderable extent; the foil of which, in many parts, is capable of much improvement, by agriculture and induftry. The countries abound with mofl kinds of Quadrupeds, &c. whofe fkins are of great value. The numerous inland rivers, lakes, &;c. produce iifli of almofl every fpe- cies ; and in the feas in and about the Straits, and the Northern parts of the Bay, white and black whales, fea-horfes, bears> and feals, are killed in great numbers by the Efquimaux ; whofe implements for this pur- pofe are exceedingly (imple. Whatadvantage might not then arife to the nation from this branch of the trade alone, were it laid open! If % ( 99 ) If abic liarpooncrs were fcnt on this employ, with proper afl'illants, 1 will venture to lay, that greater profits would accrue from this fifhery, than from all the peltry at prefcnt imported by the Company. The difcovcry ofnumberlcfs fine harbourr.,and an acquaint- ance with the furrounding country, which at prefcnt is entirely unknown tons, would, in all likclihood,'be the confequencc of thcfc feas being more frequented than they are. If it be ohjeclcd to this, that the vafl quantities of ice in the Straits mtifl impede a veflcl from making difcoverics ; I anfwer, that many years the ice is lo infignificant in quantity as not to obllrudl the palfage of the fhips in the lead ; and in thofe feafons when it is thickeft, it is diilblved and difperfed in the ocean long before the return of the Ihips in September. Even in the very confined manner in which the Company carry on this trade, it is fcir from being inconfiderable, though their fliips feldom flop but a very fliort time for the purpofe of trading with the Efquimaux; and G 2 it I: thy. .5 * * •. i-i'-y. i ■If, k fm 3* i I. ^ v> ■ ! i . i -I v-1vi> -: Hi 'J* ■ It-; '' If -^ 5- ■ ( 10^ ) it frequently happens, that hy rcafon of foggy or windy weather, thofc people arc prevented from coming down to the rtiips, and confcquently the trade is loll for that year; for none of them arc feen by the Englifli on their return to Europe. The articles which the Company receive from the Efquimaux are, whale-bone, feal-fkins, ivory, and oil, for which they exchange darts, fpears, knives, and even old nails and iron hoops ', but as oil conQitutcs a principal part of the food of thefe favages, they are not very forward in offering it to fale. I 3 J l"-^' !)' ■ *• I • ■■ iw fc. > '•' * ■"■ W y! V W^r fr k. •-■■."I %('■ k. !■•-> I hope that what I have advanced on this fuhicv!:>, will be fufficiently convincing to every unprejudiced and impartial perfon, that the Company have not made fuch efforts in thefe territories for the good of the na- tion, as they were by their original Charter required to do; and I here beg leave to repeat, that uninliuenced by prf^judice, or actuated by interedcd views, I have no profped but the good of my country, which is very fenfibly wounded by every reftraint that is laid on its commerce. Having l1 ,> ( '-1 /...' '{iiuipl i^-'f V.i.'it^<4i''i m t; 'iy/K;' } • k l-n ■5! I.' * -m ( 1^2 ) hitherto for this purpofe, that their opr ponents have found no impediment arife from their exertions, though, as already obferved, they are obliged to tranfport their merchandize to a much greater diftance. When we recoiled that this country has been" in the ha^-ids of an incorporate4 Company for upwards of one hundred and thirteen years ; and compare the few difcoveries that have been made during that period with thofe made in other pi^rts ; — when we rcflecfl how little we are ac- quainted with its foil or produdtions, and how ignorant we are with refpedl to its ca- pability of improvement ;— when we further confider that no care has been taken to cul- tivate a reciprocal frienddiip with remote nations of Indians j but on the contrary, that thofe we are already acquainted with have been vitiated by the introdudion of fpirituous liquors, and difgufted by ill- ufage; fuch reflexions naturally excite in the bofom of every one that has the good of their country at heart, a v/ifli that fo ex- tenfive and improveable a country were in the pofleflion of thofe who wquld take more pain§ ,ii> f'^ !-.l. % ( ^°3 ) pains to r'^nder it more beneficial to the mother country. The inland parts produce wild rice and Indian corn; and when our people have Ibwn any of the feed of thefc, it has come up as pro- mifmgas in the cultivated gardens of Canada. The animals of this extenfive inland country- are buffaloes in great numbers, goats, wild horfes, moofe, and different fpecies of deer. Thofe of the carnivorous kind are wolves, wild cats, wolverins, badgers, bears, bea- vers, otters, 6cc. &c. Every fort of fi(h, of the mod delicious flavour, are likewife found in the rivers and lakes. The Indians, being a mofl indolent peo- ple, and as devoid of curiolity as the Lords of the Soil, the country may lay unex- plored, uncultivated, and unknown, to eter- nity, without the interpofition of fome virtuous members of the community, who fhall have patriotifm enough to adopt, and influence fufHcient to carry into execution, fuch plans as may be thought molt advife- able for extending the trade, and thereby G 4 augment- 4i ■•; ■■- I - - ( 104 ) augmenting the expenditure of the manu-? fadures of Great Britain. If we look into hiftory we rtiall find, that fince the difcovery of this country, uninhabited States have grown populous, uncultivated regions have been made fertile, and colonies, unknown at that time, have become independent and flourifliing. But this country, and this country alone, feems neglefled and forgotten ; for though it has been known to us for upwards of a hun- dred years, it is almoft in as rude and un- improved a Hate as the forlorn and inhofpi- table climes which furround the Poles. liVv '"::j'^ I" tl Pi:' \i W' . k •■■'4' ?'./ ^^ t ■■*■* ; tf ; >■ F' n'' ' i'^; ?>■*. ■ fc^' r-f i^i V!^i '" >'. r? I*.- n^ i^ t :l -..i ^' ri i^ With humble fubmiffion to the fuperior judgment of the refpedlable fet of Gentlemen who- preiidc over this country, it appears to me highly probable, that if they had fettled pofts at convenient diflances in the interior parts to the Weftward, the event would not only have proved very lucrative to them- felves, but to the kingdom -, for it might have been the means of making alliances with po>verful nations of Indians, even fa. fi^r acrofs m ( 105 ) acrofs the country as California; who wouM Gonfequently at this day gratefully acknow- ledge the power and fuperiority of the Britifli empire, and have made no inconfidenible ad- dition to her commerce. But it anfwcrs tho felfifh ends of this Company to entertain dif- ferent fentiments. Sj^ne Account of the Company s OJjkers in the Country, as well the Governors ^ as inferior Servants, The chief pcrfon in command at each Settlement is called theGovernor of the Fort. Sometimes he has one to a6t under him, who is termed The Second. Thefe, with the Surgeon and the mafter of the ficop, conftitute a council, who are to deliberate together in all cafes of emergency, or on all af- fairs of importance ; fuch as the reading the Company's General Letter ; inditing an an- fwer to it ; the encroachments of th« Ca- nadian traders ; or the mitbehaviour of the fervants. In thefe Councils very little re- gard I" ■ • •■ ■ m ■■h <■'. . '^j: ,-. , ••■ »/ ■ ••■')';•■,■ lit >■■ i '%■■ , if In .' K t'; ' * m :i ft!, ; Si" t io6 ) gard, however, is paid to the opinion of the fubordinate members, who rather wifh to obtahi the Governor's fmiles by acqaiefcencea than roufe his refentment by freely deliver- ing oppofite fentiments. The Governors are appointed for either three or five years, and have from fifty to one hundred and fifty pounds per year, with a premium upon the trade, which fla<< ) that he will be fooii tired of his fituatlun, and find his life too unhappy to be borne with any degree of eqiumimity and com- pofure. Without a friend to confole him, or to alleviate the hardlhips of adverfity; without any fcenes of amufement, or ohjcdls to divert the attention, and exhilerate the fpirits ; he will find that he drags on an uncomfortable exiftence, without talHng any of its enjoyments ; that he lives in a ftate of indifference and anxiety ; that his maimer, who is his enemy, has it in his power not only to blaft his prefent peace of mind, but by his influence to hurt his charader in future. Such is the life of a fervant to this Company, who unguardedly falls -under the difpleafure of the Governor. ,» It may naturally be fuppofed, that thofe gentlemen whom the Company intruft with the charge of their Factories, are pcrfons of fome ingenuity ; and if not endowed with a liberal education, yet tJiat they can read, write, and underftand common ac- counts. Though any perfon would con- ceive thefe qualifications as effentially neccf- fary. • ••( 't * » U y*. -. ■.'.- r^: ■ 'li i\ i--^' 4,1 \t,: •!'• -_ • jif I If ■' . ? -■■. ( t.i ) fary, yet the firft perfon I ferveJ under Was a remarkable inflance of the contrary. This refpedlablc perfonage was incapable of caft- ing up a queftion in fimple addition ; the numerical figures were hardly known to him j nor could he intelligibly write his own name. His underftanding likevvife was, in every acceptation of the word, moft contemptible ; and yet this worthy member of fociety en-» joyed the honourable appellation of one of the Hudfon's Bay Company's Governors. But notwithftanding the Gentlemen at liome place fo much reliance on their fupe- rior officers while in the country^ the defe- rence immediately vanifhes when they arrive in London ; for a Governor may attend the Hudfon's Bay Houfe, and walk about their Hall for a whole day, without the leaft notice being taken of his attendance. To exem- plify this fadt, I (hall mention an inftance that happened within my own knowledgCi and to a perfon who was not of the above defcription. A gen* i«' it*':. ■3 K ( 113 ) A gentleman of tried probity, who had fervcd the Company with remarkable fide- lity and fuccefs for upwards of feventeen years, came home in 1782, with a view to ipend the remainder of his days in his na- tive country, and to enjoy himfclf a little, after a long and painful fervitude. U on his arrival he was in hopes at lead to be in- troduced to the Gentlemen he had ferved fo long, and to find his conduct approved by thofe who had reaped the fruits of his induftry; but this fmall favour was denied him ; and he went into the country, without finding thefe reafonable expedlations gratified ; nor could he be very well pleafed with the fu- percilious condudt of his late mafters. The labouring fervants, as before ob- ferved, are all procured from the Orkney lllands, at the rate of fix pounds per year; the Captains of the (hips engage them, and, if poflible, for five years. Each fervant figns a contract on his entrance into the fervice, but he is not allowed to have a copy of it, for fear the fecrets of the Company fhould gain admittance into the world ; fo that as H it M«, ?t^ ■ i": V - y.:^: ^'^n^ ■■ t S.; t ■ •' » hi • 'Ik 'h'V ( ii6 An acquaintance of mine had his box loft at the Iloufe of the Company, through the negligence of the clerks. After it had palled the ufual examination, it was allowed to be flilppcd and fent out. When the owner found it did not arrive, having furticient proof of its being loft under their roof, he wrote a fubmiflive letter to the Company, re- quefting an indemnification for his lofs ; but fo far was he from having this reafonable requeft complied with, that one of the gen- tlemen at the board made the following fig- nificant remark on his letter ; ** Damn the fellow, does he think that we want to wear his clothes." An oblervation that would have done little honour to a fi(h porter within die purlieus of Billingfgate, ■ ;< ' 'i ■■I i-Li- During the time any Indians may be at the Settlements trading with their furs, the Fa<5lory gates are kept continually (hut; and It is the employment of one perfon to watch that no one goes out, for fear he fhould carry on a private trade with the Indians : fo that all the fervants in the Forts fometimes remain imprifoned like birds in a cage, for a week ^.•►■^ --.^M t ■! ( i»7 ) a week together; and even if a perfon wi(hcs to take a walk on a Sunday afternoon, when there are no natives trading, he mufl firll go to the Governor, and humbly fupplicatc his permifl'ion, before he can walk one quarter of a mile in order to recreate him- Jelf, The provifions allowed the ferviints are, taken altogether, but of the middling kind ; fome of it is very good wholefome food, and other kinds of it are of fo bad a qua- lity, as fcarce to be digeflive on a canine flomach. Great quantities of venifon and geefc are falted for the ufe of the Fadories during the fpring and fall of the year. This provifion will fometimes remain three or four years in the calks unopened ; after which it becomes fo compleatly putrified, rancid, and devoid of tafte, that a perfon might as well exped nutriment from the fliavingG in a carpenter's (hop. So difgufted are the fervants at it when it arrives at this ilate, that by way of contempt they term it '• fulted horfe flefh." IP- P 1.1 f H Among •5:i v I) Ml ■ '-J '■-..,;(/■ - it: 'if , ;■-• •■■i;. n m'^ ;■>.. ■ ;-!< ' - >» ■ •■ ■ ■■ 4 ' 1. .■■ ',^s ■ • '>'l ■4;:'-. . ■ ^'C* ■■**•/• f ^•■■'■ '-.»■'"* f ''-■•• . . :M^l ■« ^, :' w ■ 2 ,■, , > ' 'I .:,4 >'"■/ 'MA ^.'}A-'r ." *■.:' j. • •. •■ A^,S "v: <^' ■;.i» V I .■it, ■ . ■» I'll ( ii8 ) Among fuch a variety of complaints juflly inftituted againft the Company, and thofe who adt under their diredions, I am happy to ha^c it in my power to mention one par- ticular in which they merit commendation j ^nd this is the pioderate price they fix on fome European commodities, which they fell to their fervants -, who, as they have fuch low wages, would nof otherwife be able to furnifli themfelves with neceflary conveniences for the climate. The follow ing articles are thus rated ; Brafs Kettles, 2S. 6d. per lb.— Soap, IS. 6d. ditto. — Sewing twine, is. 6d. ditto, —Tobacco, leaf, is. 6d. ditto. — Tobaccq, Englifh roll, 3s. 6d. ditto.-iCloth, 6s. 6d, per yard. — Duffels, 4s. ditto.-r-Flannel, IS. 6d. ditto,— Guns, 30s. each.- — Shirts, 4s. 6d. each. — Blankets, 8s. each. — Shoes, 5s. 6. per pair. — Stockings, 3s. per pair. — Writing paper, is. per quire. — Englifli Brandy, 5s. per gallop, &c. The chief employments of the inferior fer- vants in the fettlements, is carrying logs of wood, m m% ( i'9 ) wood, walking in fnow-fhocs, fledging the fnow out of the Fadory avenues, and hunt- ing; and notvvithftgnding the inconveniences before recited, after a perfon has been a few years in the fervice, he generally imbibes a love for the country, unlefs difcouragcd by the bad ufage of his fuperiors. The hunting part of his duty he gene- rally follows with pleafure and avidity j belides the iCcreation he receives from the fport on thofe excurfions, he takes delight in being froni the Fadtory during them, as then he becomes his own mafter, and is free from the infpecStion of a too watchful overfeer. Notwithftandingthecuftoms of this country, as at prefcnfceftablilhed, are rather forbid- ding, and feem to difcourage us from wifli- ing to live in fo frigid a clime, yet, as already obferved, though cold, it is exceeding healthy ; and there have been many who jiave lived here feveral years not only com- fortably, but happy ; and have enjoyed a better ftate of health perhaps than they would have done in a lefs inhofpitablc country, H 4 I cannot ♦ .•■ *' A'm ''^;m^{:\ ■ i' i--^ ■■ ut^i ■'■; ;• ..; '--'i ~.'^;^t^ n .-, t^\- . •'I ' * * ■ ■..'(■'.r.n ,-' ^)^y ^' ■ i ^■' '-\m '':^U ^;-'^& •■•■'■ ''i'i'^^' "'.■'ijl;^' ..■■■•^ ^\^ '.'•■ [.V-'f - JSr ■: -iJi-l- > . ■ >■•' ■»-.,- ■ . '' -' '•''.'•"i'\ . '^ii:-^^^ ■ -IP ■ .■• "-r.-; ■ ' ' ' '■ * 1 -■ . ■■ 1' -■•' • • , .,■?■ i^a^i ■. ; ..■.,-J^' , ■ . ■ ., ;}■■ 'm *$ ■■ ■ ■■''■'h . '■ ■ ' -..r ■ ' .. "^& :■ 'M i--.'': > .w -■':.. -^^ ;,.v, -:. ■'^! [■::,--., '^■^ .'■'■ *. - '■»■.' ■,-, ■••' ■ .■ ? ",' :■',■■' ■'■ ■.v'ji, r y • ■ ,' •-, ■ if*.'- .;:. ■: •■ '4^^ ■,t ■- . (•>'- * ■, ■ ■• - ^ . '■^■_. ^ • ^ - "' -Qi ,.■ ■ ■ «»• ^ !■';■; --^4 '' •'•■ ■' -.-(1 . .••■I--- %■. t^:^. ■.- m--^ J" , ( 120 ) I cannot leave this fiibje»fl without re- prefcnting the loft ftate a youth is in, who is unfortunate enough to be bound appren- tice to the Hudfon's Bay Company. — The unfortunate young man is perhaps the only fon of a tender and afFedionate parent, who, thinking to forward the happinefs of his child, articles him to this Company for feven years : I haye known an inftance where a boy has been bound for four^ea years. On his arrival in the country, he knows nobody. His mafters who fent him out, and to whom he is to look for fupport, are now many hundreds of miles diftant. The Governor is quite indifferent about him, he having fervants of his own. The confe- quence of this is, the boy aflbciates with the common men, forms connections with them, and becomes habituated to their ^uf- toms, which his tender years are not able to guard again ft. The education given him by his parents is now foon obliterated ; he imbibes freft^ vices daily ; contrails a love for fmoaking, drinking, and fwearing ; and in a word, becomes a reprobate. His em- ployment ( >2I ) ployment conlifts in cleaning the Governor's knives and fhoes, running on errands for the cook, and cutting down and carrying heavy logs of wood, much beyond his years and flrength. In the mean time, no care is taken to inculcate the precepts of religion and virtue in his mind, or even preferve thofe principles and knowledge he may have brought in the country. Every ftep that would make him a man fit for the world, and a ufeful member of fociety, is totally negleded. I would afk the Hudfon*s Bay Company what an apprentice of their's is fit for, after having fer ved them for feven or fourteen years ? whether he has obtained a knowledge of any art or bufinefs that will enable him to get a creditable living in the world, or tofupport nimfelf when the ftrength and vigour of youth are exhaufted ? — I will defy them to point out any, that has been thus acquired ; as his conflant employment has confifted of every fpecies of drudgery and fubordinatc labour : fo that on his retu^-jiing home, his indulgent parents, inflead of finding him inflrudted . r • I' ■ ■■it.' . f.: .f. mm m'l •V • r <* • ?t; :>■ .a* '* . "i i- ;•'..>' ,^ t f . % *« T' N' ■jV> v'« ■' ri •; > i '.V , "t • J" ^ 4 , .4^ ■W H ''- > V I . ' ' >»M " ,.■'.''■' !^ .^ ^ rf .'j ^■j? ' :■' f; ' - A f h / ' ? \ '. 1 , t*. *V 1 f El^ 1, i 1 ^ ;-.| 1 n ■f] t '\ a-s ■• .V( I A« « . .^' " J *,■»*. 1 r ^^ ^4 ^ -. H '■-? ■^d " .•»'" 4. t ^ f, J .?, ■ " .* rWy - :'-i ^.>:, • 'i ^i,SJ' \ 4^ - *!' L'" p?f ' fe k'* V, i« ' ( 122 ) inftruded in any thing that is praife-worthy, are lamentably convinced, that he is a pro- ficient in nothing but idlengft, fw^^ring, and debauchery. It may be argued by the abettors of the Company, (if they have any) that after th« period of the apprentice's indentures is ex-r pired, he has an opportunity of rifing in their fervice, if by good behaviour he has merited fo much favour; that from his ap- prenticefhip, he may be made a writer at 15I. per year, from thence be raifed to an afliftant at 25I. per year, afterwards a fc- cond at 40I. per year ; and from thence to the exalted ftation of a Governor, at 150I. per year. To this I would reply, that I am enabled to fay, from the eleven years fer- vice which I pafled through in their employ^ that the profpedt of afcending this important ladder is very faint indeed. But even al- lowing the youth to be fortunate enough, |by affiduity or favour, to fucceed to promo- tion in this fervice, he is not even then ^x- pmpt from labour ^nd menial duty; for ^very perfon in the Factories, except the Governor t- " ■: i: ..\y-: ( 123 ) Governor and furgeon, mud occafionally go to hard vork ; and fliould he objed to this ufage, anjd beg for milder employment, in the moft fubmifrive terms, it will have no efFedt on the Governor, who in all probabi- lity, will not only increafe the difhcultiea of the complainant, by every ferles of feverc treatment, but fend him l^ome to the Com- pany with a bad character; reprefenting that he is unfit for thejr fervic^, haying rc-r fufed his duty. Such is the ufuai progrefs of the fervitudc of their apprentices; and fo little is the probability of the young n^en reaping any advantage from it. ■ I'''; 'V ., If' !!9f.T:. '!!'' ;■ I It ^3?/ Vv- ■•■• t ' r -ii»i*; r^-^' i ■ • 'f: il 1. ■•■: ■ *-■ I ' • '< * ii • ^ ' ' * f > ' > *i * *\^'' , . > * -f- ^^: :^ -'-if: ;• -<** 't-* Iff ( 124 ) It being fo nearly conneded with the fub- jc6t I am upon, I fhall fubjoin the follow- ing account of the taking of the Hudfon's Bay Company's fettlements by the French, as it was publifhed in the Morning Chronicle of April 1783, •• To the "Editor of the Morning Chronicle and Daily Advertizer, ' •* S I R, york Fort. •* As I have not obferved in any of the news- papers an account of the capture of the Hudfoi/j» Bay Company's fettlements, except a tranflation of Monf. La Peroufe's letter to the French Marine Minifter, I am induced to lay before the public the follow- ing fa(fls, founded upon truth, and recorded by my own experience. " The firft notice we had of an enemy's being on the coaft, was on the 20th of Au- guft, 1782, in the evening, at which time the Company's fhip was lying in the roads, and i J, ( • ( 125 ) and had been there five days, without hav- ing the lead intimation of this event, although Monf. La Peroufe, by his own account, had been founding Port Nelfon river on the 1 8th. The next day, Auguft 21, the wea- ther being extremely fine and calm, it af- forded the enemy an opportunity to land their men with fafety, which they attempt- ed in fourteen boats, provided with mortars, cannon, fcaling ladders, and about three hun- dred men, exclufive of marines. .' * > %:■■ " Our number of men confided of lixty Englifh and twelve Indians, who behaved extremely well to us, and evinced their re- gard to us by every exertion in their power. The defence of York Fort confided of thir- teen cannon, twelve and nine pounders, which formed a half-moon battery in the front of the Fadlory; but it being thought probable that the enemy might come in the night, and turn thefe guns againft us, they were overfet to prevent the French from taking this advantage. On the ramparts were twelve fwivel guns mounted on carnages, which njight have annoyed the enemy ) .:;■" .If ••f ■^i'^^ V; ..JI4. 'X ■; m' ■ -p. ■ ; .4 *.'*vV •- ,. It. ifl --■ -I' ■ . ^f r > 'V '^ ( '26 ) enemy in the moft effedual manner. Every kind of fmall arms were in plenty and good condition within the Fort. We had likewife! ammunition in great ftord, and the people feemed to be under no appreheniion. A fine rivulet of freih water ran within the flockadoes; there were alfo about thirty head of cattle, and as mdny hogs, with a great quan-^ tity of fait provifions of different kinds. *' Aug. 24. Two Indian fcouts were fent to obtain intelligence ; who returned in about three hours, and gave it as their opinion, that the enemy muft be nigh hand, as they heard feveral guns fired in the vicinity of the Fort* About fun fet we could plainly difcern a large fire behind us, about a mile and a half dif- tant, kindled by the French, as we fuppofed to refrefli themfelves before their attack the next dayi , ** Augi ±2* ^^ w^s obferveJd at day light, that the Company's fhip had taken the ad- vantage of a fine breeze at S.W. and pru- dently ihaped her courfe for England, urt- perceived by the enemy. About 10 o'clock this £':&' ( i27 ) this mornlrtg the enemy appeared before oui* gates ; during their approach a mod inviting opportunity offered itfelf to be revenged on our invaders, by difcharging the guns on the ramparts, which mufl have done great exe- cution ; but a kind of tepid flupefadion feemed to take pofleflion of the Governor at this time of trial, and he peremptorily de- clared he would fhoot the firfl man who of- fered to fire a gun. Accordingly, as the place was not to be defended, he, refolving to be beforehand with the French, held out a white flag with his own hand, which was anfw^ered by the French officer's (hewing his pocket-handkerchief* •i , .,' . >■■■ ■ f • - • :1 ** Under the fandion of this flag of truce, a parley took place, when the Governor re- ceived a fummons wrote in Englifh. In this fummons two hours were granted to con- fult about our fituation 5 but this indulgence was made no ufe of, and the place was mofl inglorioufly given up in about ten minutes^ without one oflicer being confulted, or a council affembled ; fo that this Fort, which might have withftood the united ef- forts tv ^imi ,("■ ■': '■:■. t -w 1 .-■ . V ,1" I ' i ..■'■>y.L'.' 41 • .■ •? ■ * ^ ■•*■. 4 ^. i , '"V 1 ■i' i> lia". ■-1- j '"J 1 b'' ;t^' y'jy 8'"* ' 1 Rp''i> L^-3*- b1' B* R> * " - i ( 128 ) forts of double the number of thofe by which it was afTailed, in an attack with fmall arms, was furrendered to a half- flarved wretched group of Frenchmen, worn out with fatigue and hard labour, in a country they were entire ftrangers to. From the nature of their attack by the way of Port Nelfon River, they could not ufe their mortars or artillery, the ground being veiy bad, and interfperfed with woods, thickets, and bogs, by which they were fo roughly handled in the courfe of their march, that I verily believe they had not fifty pair of fhoes in their whole army. The difficul- ties of their march muft appear very ron- fpicuous, when it is confidered, they were a whole day in marching feven miles. « " On the whole, I cannot help thinking, that if the place had been commanded by a perfon of refolution and good condudt, and one who had his country's good at heart, it might have been defended againft an attack with mufquetry. " Wheii by ith ilf- Din I a to. vzy ufe ing ifo chy ■of ul- 3n- ere ij", m ¥rT\ lit- i^ « I^W !^. by idt, at inft ■i.'^ *• :M mi; len t^' ■*-■ ,.-»i-r, I.**. JV M: vm mi: i mi. Hi-'M ( (*\ i' < ! » * t X \ . 1 f i v:; ' N' ,." • .■' ; . 1' 1 r> **:. :rl'i! * - A 1 Tvil f ' %'j. ;•;. 1* i n. *'. ■ •'i'l '\ i?^;r i T- ^ ¥'' -' ■f ": , m'^- ,*L!iiL ^ Is AH J,,-.? • ' ■ ,*■ ■<''.■ ■'■A - / '•} '»' ' " rt ' ' '?S-- "ij;; *: '■. '^ V " K-* «i;> '*»<*' 1^ k: ( ^33 ) ** When it is confidered that the enemy's fliips lay at lead twenty miles from the Factory, in a boirterous fea, at a dangerous time of the year, and confequently could not co-operate with their troops on fliore, but with the greateft difficulty and uncer- tainty; and even this depended folely on propitious winds and weather : — when it is further confidered, that their troops could receive no fupplies but what came from the fhips ', and that cold, hunger, and fatigue, which had taken pofleflion of their bodies, was hourly working in our favour :— when it is likewife confidered, that the Factory was not in want of any one article which would enable it to withftand an attack with mufquetry ; and that the people ihewed no lign of fear, difmay, or deje(flion, but quite the reverfe :— I fay, when all thefe material circumftances fhall be confidered by the impartial reader, he will undoubtedly look with indignation on the pufilanimity of the Englifh Governor, who, with all thefe ad- Vantages on his fide, furrendered without firing a gun. The poor Indians were fo I aifeded >. 41'' ;■ ■ » "T ■ ■■ \ ■>■ V'f WW' w J. :¥T^. '.If •■... J.;:. ■ ^f'-VT? ■"■ *'„^'' ■ ■-v'lJiVA;- "•I ' i'"' i--./ ■; I' ■• *.•*!<(•'" •■ I.- ,::if'\ ■■ v-« ^: ■;■.; |«^^' ''■ I; 4 ' ■ - I! ( 134 ) adeded a^ our captivity, that they ex- prefied their forrow by fighs and tears. ** Whatever opinion the French might entertain of us on account of our timidity, it is but jurtice to fay, that they behaved to their eafy acquired prifoners, with that po- litencfs which is peculiar to their nation. Monf. Le Peroufe, the commander of Le Sceptre, was an honour to his nation, and an ornament to human nature. His pollte- ncfs, humanity, and goodnefs, fecured him the aiFe(^ion of all the Company's officers ; and on parting, at the mouth of Hudfon's ilraits, they felt the fame fenfation which the deareft friends feel in an interview preceding a long feparation. His humane difpolition was more particularly conlpicu- ous in leaving a repo(itoi*y of ammunition, &c. for the poor Indians, who otherwife mufl: have experienced great inconveniences and diilrefs. ** Though the French fuftained no lofs from us during their attack of York Fort, yet, through the fe verity of the climate, and their 6;: -i' { '35 ) their own inexperience, they lofl five large boats, a confiderable quantity of merchan- dize, and fifteen foldiers, who were drowned in Hay's river, after the place was furren- dered. '* The Company fuffered great lofs by the capture of this place ; which had remained in their poflefllon unmolefted fince the peace of Utrecht* The whole of the ihip's out- ward bound cargo was entirely burnt and deftroyed, together with a confiderable quan- tity of provifions, florcs &c. which had been colledling for about feventy years. *' If the above account finds a place in your entertaining paper, 1 fnall embrace the firft opportunity of fending you an account of the capture of Prince of Wales Fort." m .':> p- ■mk ■i.-. *i Mm ^ ■ •f '■•%■■'' I 2 Churchill \ . >i > \ - .• .^ r •• •. . v I i ■.^'• '^." ■ .'".•< .-■',•• ' •'■M^ ■;.•" '^^^ ;••.',-';'» '.'5 ■. '• lo'i.- '*■(;'■ •;p:: urn' m'V«:/^ 'I i i ^: 'A' s,^'i:^ ^i^...^ ^'^^ I i.. m ( 136 ) Churchill River. Mr. Editor, ** According to my promife I now fend you the account of the capture of Prince of Wales, or Churchill Fort, on the N. W. coaft of Hudfon's Bay, which I received from a gentleman, who was upon the fpot at the time, and on whofe veracity I can depend. " The French vifited this place before York Fort, on account of its Northern fitu- ation, and the general prevalency of winds from that quarter, thinking to take the ad- vantage of them in going to the Southward. Accordingly the three fhips appeared before the Fort on Auguft 8, 1782, at a time when the Governor was very bufy trading with fome Indians who were juft arrived : but the fight of fuch unexpeded vifitors did not fail to engage the attention of the Fadory people, who were not ufed to fee fy many ftrangers in thefe feas. <( At K h-^- '. ?.-x ( 137 ) " At this time, which was about fix o'clock in the evening, the enemy had cad anchor within five miles of the Fort, and in a little time afterwards appeared very induftrious in founding the river, even within mufquet fliot of the place ; and I have heard the Governor declare, that their officers went about the Fa.^tory avenues, fhooting birds, with the greateft indifference; a convincing proof that they did not con- ceive themfelves to be in much danger. The Fort at this time mounted forty- two cannon, fix, twelve, and twenty-four pound- ers, was provided with ammunition in great plenty, and the Fadlory was not in imme- diate want of provifions of any kind. The ftrength of the Fort itfelf was fuch as would have rcfifted the attacks of a more confi- derable force ; it was built of the firongeft materials, its walls were of great thicknefs, and very durable, it having been forty years in building, and attended with great ex- pence to the Company. In fhort it was tlie opinion of every intelligent perfon, that it might have made an obftinate refiflance when attacked, had it been as well provided I 3 in y\1. 4:. •rr-.v ■; 1 'km iiim •'Mil: •"iv ^i. ti'-. *'v I r m *■■;?: '■I \'.. .S "•'k ''f ■ »■ ■>■ .0. v.- *.. /■^.' - '•'■•I, •• 1(1 ■. I ■■• ' '4 '. ii .'5 in t;, <»-,:, »-■■'., :i ••■■ , --^ ■:■'-» >A: i'.'- ■ • A '•; if" ,. .'.> .s-ii ■.-■» •- ■■'■"■■ ■ 33 'i • I fiw; ^i^ ¥i M m Mi: te/ V *." ':•.•(■ •I - ■V '^ > it ( '38 ) in other refpefts ; but through the Impo- litic condudt of the Company, every cou- rageous exertion of their fervants muil have been conlidered as imprudent temerity ; for this place, which w^ould have required four hundred men for its defence, the Company, in their confummate wifdom, had garrifoned with only thirty-nine. • ** About three o'clock in the morning Aug. 9, the enemy began to difembark their troops, at a place called Hare- Point ; from whence they marched in a regular manner to- wards the Fadory, until they arrived within about four hundred yards, when they made a halt, and fent two officers from the main body, with a fun^nions to the Governor to furrender the place. The Governor and two of his officers met them half way, when all difficulties that obflrudled the negotiation were fpeedily overcome, to the fatisfadion of both parties. In confequcnce of this verbal agreement, the French, to the amount ofaboutfourhundred men entered the Fort, at fix o'clqck in the morning, when the Britiffi flag 'y^ •rtt?.^' ( '39 ) flag was lowered, and a table cloth from the Governor's table hoided in its flead. ■ ''m.!ti ■' ^ ■■,■*►.'?.' *' Every part now exhibited a fccne of de- vaftation and ruin ; for the licentious foldiery, finding they were not reflridted by a capitu- lation, began to plunder whatever came in their way. It muft, however, at the fame time be acknowledged, that the officers took every opportunity to deprefs this fpirit in the common foldiers, with great humanity and addrefs ; politely fympathizing with the fufFerers in the inevitable diflrefTes attending the fortune of war. The remainder of this, and the following day, were fpent in demo- lishing the works belonging to the fortifica- tions, fhipping on board fundry articles of ftores, provifions, and a valuable quantity of peltry, which if the Company had re- ceived would have indemnified them for all their other lofTes conjointly. " On the nth, the three (hips fet fail for York-Fort ; but about five o'clock in the morning, a fail was obferved apparently fleer- ing for Churchill, which was now in flames. I 4 One Iff Ill; ■ m . ■ ,«. k ■ ■ ' -ft' u ■ ■^• ^ A. ■■ W- / .1. ,,« I %■:■ r ( HO ) One of the frigates was ordered to chac«. The experience of her commander was, how- ever, fo inadequate to the talk of coping with the ilcilloftheEnglifli Captain, that if he had perfevered he would probably have beea led into fuch a labyrinth of (hoal water and rocky ground, as might have made him repent his vifit to Hudfon's Bay. Accor- dingly the Frenchman gave up the purfuit about feven o'clock in the evening, after firing a bow chace from an eighteen pounder, which he found had no other tWt ' , ■ ■ %■■; ■ hi ..V . k.: PS ( 142 ) an obftlnatc defence, his condud wac in fomc refpeds h'ghly reprehenfible. In the firfl place, he fhould have fent an exprcfs to York Fort, over land, by the Indians, with information of an enemy's arrival. Had lie done fo, the people at that fettlcment would have had five days more at leafV ^ nrp'^^rc themfelves for fo unexpedlcd an event. Se- condly, he fliould have deftroyed the papers of the mailer of the floop, who was then to the Northward upon a trading voyage. By the polTeffion of thefe papers, the enemy acquired a complete defcription of York Fort, with an account of its weaknefs on the land fide, which induced them to try their fuccefs that way. Thirdly, his timidity in quietly fuffering a known enemy to be founding the river, as it were, under his nofe, without oppofition, was not, I think I may venture to fay, confiftent with that fortitude which ought to aduate a Briton, in the fervice of his country. Rbmarks if f ( »43 ) Remarks and Observations made In the Inland Parts o/' Hudson's Bay during Four Tears Rc/idence in tbofc Unknown Regions. In June 1783, I landed at Quebec; and in May 1784, I left the city of Montreal, to penetrate into the interior parts. This we did in canoes made of birch- rind, of about four tons burthen each, and na- vigated by eight Canadians, who are, with- out doubt, the bed qualified for this very laborious navigation, which is continually obflru(5ted by fhoals, rapids, and the moft tremendous catarads. In about one month we arrived at the falls of St. Mary, which form a junction of the lakes Superior and Huron. As the fur merchants in Canada began to be alarmed this year, on account of the partition line eftabliftied by the late peace, apprehending that the key of the interior c:uuntry, fituated on the bottom of lake Su- perior. ■■>■ .J> V.' •* !? ' > f 4 .* '1 1 ■H »'** v-.:i 1- 1 •: •<*^'"' •• ' r ' ■• . ■ ^ •* « ' ^ ''i/ >. .■.■>' V '• '. 'V^■*• 5 ■■ .♦ ■ • i •'. . ■■•f^ ■ •U-5' ■■■''J- . *'■■■ . ■■J ' !.• ' •■ .. -i.^ -/;^\;' ■; rt - ' ■■■.^\.'l ■■■ r; ■ 3;\ , . . ., • n '.', '. '.'iix' * J\. : • ','/ ::^.. ',' K:- •• \.t.t- ■;.»■•.• '•<>.'■• . .t'^;'.;- . J n ■• ■■■ .^.^irW. ■:. «'• ■'(.' ■ ■ • V V' • » V 7'^:f ':: !*:', i . ■ ■ . N / • B 8.'<, u';:^f -1 i r*. ■» :V "■■••»- r ^'^ ; ♦'.,*». ■' Y i r ES ^ 4>V'^ U -iie*' : I ■■'-:.'■ 1 ■ 'fP^^^'v I I" •' ■- !'!':'■. U-' » £l-.'; . ;• v' '."^ , i» - ■'■* r,"'-' ( »44 ) pcrior, would thereby fall within the Ame- rican bouniiary, I was pitched upon to pur- fuc an niknown trav^'l in order to explore anotlicr paiVar;e into the interior country, indepcndant of the old one known by the name of the Great Carrying- Phice. I ac- cordingly fiit out for that purpofe, and fuc- cceded in my expedition much to the fatis- fadion of the merchants ; but as the Ame- ricans have not yet been able to obtain pof- leflion of thofe Weftern pofts on the lakes, ceded to them by the late peace, the traders Hill continue the old route. When the goods arrive at the Great Car- rying Place, they are embarked in Canoes of fmaller dimcnfiv-iis, the navigation being flill more intricate -, and here they meet thp winterers who are returning with furs traded in the courfe of the preceding winter. Not lefs than one thoufand Canadians and Eu- ropeans are employed by the merchants in this bufmefs, who are incorporated under the firm of the North-Weft Company, belides perhaps as many more who go to Detroit pn the fur trade, and return to Montreal with beaver ( '45 ) beaver (kins, deer fl^ins, &c. to a grcnt amount. Upwards of four thouf.md packs are produced from the whole trade annually, which confumes a great quantity of Britilh merchandize, of the mofb inferior quality, and which perhaps would hardly find a market elfewhcre. In the following remarks on the inland parts, a great fimilarity will be found between the Indians living on the coa(l of Hudfun's l^ay, and thofe inland, termed the Nche- thawa Indians : in fadt they were originally the fame people, but as numbers have receded from the feacoafl: to partake of a more fruit- ful clime, they have fuffered fome alteration in their manners and cuftoms. I'^W. l''i'-"''V', i'l'i i'tl' :y*'*;: WM .m a < WiW Of 1 ''iM^''' ^^? I;. ': i *r H ■" V '^''* ■>;'■' "^" ■ I ( '46 ) Of the Face of th(? Country, /Vj Soil, Climate, and Natural Produc- tions. I pafied the winters of the years 1784, 1785> 1786, and 1787, on a large river, which empties itfelf by many branches into that lake which Is laid down in maps by the name of Like Bourbon. This lake was im- properly fo called by the French, when in poUeiTion of Canada ; but its real name is the Cedar lake, and it is thus named by the Indians, on account of that kind of wood being found thereon* if ■ K '■* i ' '-/■' I.' ^-^ i- " t!- I?'.' In the year 1787, when the following re- marks were made, I winter'd in the com- puted latitude of 55 deg. N* and Latitude 120. deg. W. from the meridian of London. I cannot fufficiently lament the opportunity I have lofl of giving to a certainty the geo- graphical fitiiation of the place, for the ^yant of necelTary inftruments. As this cannot be repaired, I mufl endeavour to com- penfate for it by communicating fuch fads as ( 1+7 ) as have come to my knowledge, either thro' the channel of perfonal experience, or con- fidential information. The courfe of the river was nearly eafl, and I wintered about feven hundred miles above its difcharge into the cedar lake. Its current is very regular, and in the whole diflance, we have but one place wher«^ the pailage is in the lead impeded by rapids ; and even this place is very trilling, and eafily palled' with proper care. Every part of this river, where the channel is wide, is much incommoded by fand banks and fhoals. The (Lores and bed of it are muddy, and confequently the wa- ter is very dirty. What I have often thought worthy of obfervation during my flay here, has been the v.Ty fudden and rapid rife of the water in the river during the fummcr months, and this without any apparent caufe, or extra- ordinary rains. In the Summer ot ly'So I obferved the water to rife ten fet perpendi- cular in the fpace of tventy-four hours j thence it fubfided gradually toils ufual height^ and then rapidly rofe as before. This rifingof the water drowns all the Country about the bottom - .'I • •! -, . ..V 1 ■■ • « ■ '.A I . •!!. t .■:%-^. 'I-}-: -i t ■. mm mm f •?i ',' 'lU • ,. :> ■ • ■, •.'it!;.' .; -'in-;.- ,' :'J'v>'; ' ; r.' •' ■ f ■>•>>' ,.■■•■ ■ •, .■?■>, *■ m'^^M ;:•■ ■ A. ••■• .i,- ■ ■I'-*' » : ■ i fe-' 1"^ ■ r-<-- \ .-■ 1.- - ?- ,i f fe; ■ ^'' ? ■■».. 1^ .**■ ■ !:' h; «-. •» . «■.•■■ 1 u:;. f ^J.. . ^ A .'/>' ( H8 ) bottom of the river, where the banks are uncommonly low ; and it frequently hap- pens, that the people who navigate the traders canoes are obliged to fleep in them, for want of a place to put afliore. This river has feveral kind of fifli in it^ and flurgeon in the fpring of the year are in great plenty. Its diflance above us is not known; but by Indian information, we learn, that it is formed from a great number of fmall rivers which iffue from an extra- ordinary ridge of Rocks, called the Stony Mountain. This mountain is the moft remarkable place in the country, and appears to be the barrier between the Indians that trade with us and thofe who trade with flrangers on the other fide. I have been told that it is feven days journey before you arrive at it. We are unacquainted with its extent at prefent, but it feems to have a North and South di- reftion; It is faid that all the rivers on the Eaft fide of the mountain have an eaft- erly courfc, and thofe on the Well fide take a weft* ( H9 ) a vveflerly courfe ; the latter mufl; evidently fall into the South feas. About two hundred and feventy miles be- low where I wintered, or about four hundred and thirty miles from its mouth, two brandies unite in one ; of thefe one is called the South branch, and the other the North branch. As I am the beil: acquainted with the latter, 1 confine n;iyfelf particularly to it in this de- fcription. I mufl not omit one particular relating to this river, which is the great quantity of Coal conveyed down by the current. I am of opinion that abundance of this mineral muft be in the country above us, as a perfon once brought me down a piece he had taken from the earth, whc-e it was piled up in heaps. And it was in every refped: fimilar to that brought tc London from the North of Eng- land and h otland. He told me that he a(ked the Indians the ufe of it; and on their exprefling their ignorance, he put fome of it in the fire which burnt violently to their great aflonillimcnt. However plenty it may be inland, it is ccrlaia there is K no ■i: U- ^^'1^1 ■■■mm -mm ■■■■■'^i.-t, ,. :'■ ■«-)••• ■' , ■p. 11! ■■'I mm: r ^< - '- -' ■^1: ■■■' * i.-i ■; • . -; (*r , "?';.' *'^'''' . •.**/*• t»^ ■/• ■*■•• C 7e 'fi. '.■). '., t ^. i'.'V. •>-■■. ■A ( 'S° ) no want of it near the river, from the great quantity left on the fboals. What other treafures may be concealed in this unknown repoiitory, or what vakiable ores may be intermixed with the coal, I will not take upon me to determine. All the lower country near the river for a confidcrable diftance, affords no other wood than willows, and a few fmall poplars. The land is exceeding marshy, and abounds with all kinds of aquatic birds in the fpring ap.d autumn. Higher up, the banks of the river arc fleeper, and pines become frequent, which are intermixed with a few infignificant elm and birch trees. AIJ thefe countries are well flored with moofe, beavers, otters, Sec. but the red deer, jumping deer, and buffalo, are not to be found till you are confiderably higher up the river, where the country becomes more open, and fo free from v/oods, that in many places fcarce a fufficiency can be procured to make a tem- porary fire for travellers, who arc obliged in- flead thereof to ufc buffalo dung. During the winter, diffant journies become dangerous, as the l«r> ( 'SI ) th^ lempefluous weather often ralfe: ^'^ow drifts. Difficulties ariling from thence are not to be obviated by Grangers, but the natives feldom meet with any accidents through thefe obftrudions, their innatti knowledge of the country guiding them un- erringly to the fpot they would widi to reacli. Many fpacious lakes are to be found in the inland parts. Mod: of thefe abound Vvith ii(h, efpecially when joined to a river; but tlie natives feldom or never look after them, and the greater part of thofe Indians who came to our fettlements to trade, will neither eat fifh, water-fowl, nor any amphi- bious animal. How far the foil of this boundlefs coun- try may be favourable to the culture of vegetables, I am not enabled to advance. Ex- periments, which fliould be our only guide to knowledge in thefe matters, never having been much made ufe of: but if the opinion of an unexperienced peribn, could be of any weight, I think I may venture to fay, that many, parts would admit of cultivation. K 2 The i I." ■ f. *:■' v-■■■•: . jiV ..' , • "'., >■'.- ■■■ <^ . ; ■'. J ' W • ?^ [;••••. •• ^' '■. i- :■ ,.■■»' Jit- , • I .'It '■.■■■ -.•''■■,i , - ' : , c *^': '■',' ■;.' '1 .1' iir At '\ I.*':'- ( 15^^ ) The Hudfon's Bay Company fervants have tried Indian corn and barley, by way of ex- periment, which came to perfedtion; Potatoes, Turnips, Carrots, Radifties, Onions, &c. have been lately reared, and found as good as thofe in Canada ; and indeed, in forming a comparifon between the two countries, the advantage feems to incline to the one I am dcfcribing. It is true we are fituated a few degrees more to the Northward, and about fifty degrees to the Weftward of Que- bec, but in the four years experience I have had, I have not yet found a winter fo fevere, as one I pafled near Montreal, where the weather is generally Something milder than about Quebec. The cold fets in, and the river ice breaks up, much about the fam» time as it does there. The fruits which fpontaneoufly flioot up, are not in fuch great variety in the wil- dernelTes of Canada, as in the country I am fpeaking of. The natives colled vafl quan- tities of a kind of wild cherries and bring them in for fale. The Hudfon's Bay people make an excellent beverage of them, which is ( 153 ) grateful to the tafte, and is an excellent antifcorbutic. Rarpbcrries, flrawberries, cur- rants, cranberries, and an infinity of other kinds which I know not the names of, are to be found every where. So that a perfon, without the help of ammunition, may in the fummer feafon procure a very comfortable fubfifteiice, were he bewildered, and alone* Should any one be in this fituation, almofl every pond of water would furnifli him with eggs of ducks, 6cc. and every thicket with a faticty of delicious fruit. In vallies and humid fituations, the grafs grows to a great height, which fattens our horfes in a fhort time ; but the buffalo ufu- ally makes choice of hilly, dry ground, to feed on, the blades of 8:rafs on which arc fmall, fliort and tender. When a numerous herd of thefe animals ftay any length of time in one place, the ground is abfolutely barren there for the remainder of the feafon, the grafs being eat off as clofe as if fliaved with a knife. K3 It ■■j".„- r {''A *>•.: < It" ■;.'.■:].:. /lit . .-••J' ., ».■»■■]' ! i,'-\\ i, r "Ifti^'" «,....*?» J, ..'•. J" ■•'itt.t ■/ - '!^^■.■> ■ ■*■•.■ I . '•■r-j-'n*' -■.■ •••/-'*• : ■ :.v^^ ^ :■ : • ;*i^^/:u /t'lv^v ■:•'■■ . Tj ,*.-■■■■ W 1 ■v*v :.'•■■■ mm-' 'l^'VH ■■■■' :: "^ll'^t V ..- ' . "■> ;>-1i- : ■" 'A". ^. '■:'■■ J; •■'■*' ;;_:■;;: fT'^ _ ■ ■ -.- f*" *•■* t ■1 - - • - - ■>. -> :,- ;,: ,<-:,■: ^ '■:■'- fi^'. .-■■ h'-:- •■'.' :?'.v,,: ... . ■■ '*'■*■ i:^-? ■H;-, vr- \:^y :■ ib>,v. ^■■ ^^' [■^■'v.'" l-fJi- .. .',' r: 1^'; Ply U~ ' ■ » •:'T- y-"; ; jui'.'; ;•_'■; • li" i^>-:- ( '54 ) It may not be amifs in this place, to mention Ibmething of the fnakcs and frogs, which take up their refidcnce in the ponds of this country. Thefe ponds become pu- trid after a long drought. The fnakes are of a green colour, with longitudinal white lines from the head to the extremity of the tail. They are fo very inofFenfive, that the Indians frequently play with them, and will tie them in knots round their necks. Whether thefe reptiles, like the frogs, lie in a torp'd (late during the winter, I cannot fay, but I have frequently found their ikins dried by the fun, which were hollow, but in other refpeds they were complete. The frogs refume their exigence and fa- culties in the month of May; when the genial warmth of the fun invigorates them afrefh. At this time they vent forth a mofl hideous croaking, day and night, and they are particularly chearful in rainy weather. The appearance of the frogs gives name to the month of May among the Nehethawa Indians. Th« ( ■ ^55 ) The climate is very perceptibly milder here than in the parts on the fcx coaft. The fnow is not half Co deep, neither are the hotteft days in fummer fo fiiltry. On the other hand, the animals in the upper country are not fo liberally fuppllcd with warm cloathing, as thofc of the lower country. The martins and other peltries of courfe arc not fo valuable. Nature, who fupplies all her children according to their feveral nccefllties, makes a wide difference in the covering of the brute creation, proportioning it to the feverity of the weather they have to refifl ; even the partridge in the lower country is not negleded ; his legs and feet being co- vered with feathers In the fame manner as the body. If a man is frozen in the upper country, it is owing to his not having taken proper care of himfelf ; .whereas upon the fea coafl-, with every neceffary precaution, a man will frequently have his nofe, face, or finger-ends iT^inned, The heavens, in cold winter nights, do not exhibit that luminous appearance, which? as before remarked, is obfervable on the fea K 4 coafl; .'■\'k' .• ?■ . ■'^ ■ ■; ; I.'' -,■ ' ' 1: •; li ■' -*'-* ■■(■ , .m • 'A . mi if*/- •'.•M.,T vii '.'■■ • . ■ ■■•■,> '» ^ -, ■ . ■' ■ i> ■■r- .. ,- •■• •, ^ ^■ ■■■, ;»*".•> 1.^ '■Ails*. ( 156 ) coiid ; nor do the (lars (liinc with that re- ful:^eiit luftre. The Aurora Dorcalis is not (o common nor fo brilliant ; the Par- helia and Paralclencs are lels frequent. Fogs in the winter, arc unknown ; whereas upon the coafl:, the fun will be obfcured for weeks together ; and every tree, &c. to leeward, will be encrufled over with this unwholefomc effluvia, which the cold con- verts into rime. In fliort, the two countries will admit of no comparifon : on is temperate and healthy, the land is dry, pleafant, and fer- tile in fpontaneous produdions, and the animal creation is various and excellent for the fupport of man : in it, a per- fon who could live retired, might pafs his days with eafe, content, and felicity, and if he did not enjoy an uninterrupted ftate of health, it would not be the fault of the air he lived in. On the other hand, the lower country is one endlefs bog, where the favage animals thcmfelves are fometimes conftantly fwan-pt. The ( «57 ) Tlie fined fu miner's day will begin wUh a fcorching heat, and tcrr.iinatc with a cold caOcrly fca fog. I'hc weather ufually inci- dent to autumn and nldfLimmer, is experi- enced in their dilL.ent extremes during the fliort fpace of tv. elve hours. The inh.ibitants frequently fill a prey to tlv: f verity of the frofl. The whole 'ountry furniOi- ; but one fpceies of quadrup .'d fit for the fupport of man ; and the Europe.ins are aceurfed v\ itli an afflidthig epidemical difordcr, which they very emphatically term the ** The Co try Dilte mper. Of the Animals, ^c. of this Country, ■ .' ' ' 14:1 * ■ \f \^ "i- .1: \ I. . 1. > ' r A Dfcription of the Buffalo, and Buffalo Pound. Of all the numerous tribes of quadrupeds in this extcnfive country, the Buffalo un- doubtedly merits a primary dcfcription ; not only on account of its being the moft nu- merous, but likewife for the great utility every •i'. Mi ,', 1 ;^ ;«?!,. ^ . f :■> 1 ' • •«' k * *, ■ t?; fi /^.■••' .%•;•• . ?•'■ ». , ' .■•. > • *• . , ^..; • '■•*■' -' fc': "i^/. I:;- <*'■■■.■ fi,' ■:.:■ hi ■■'■ .. K "I* , ( iS« ) every p;irt of It might be converted to, i{ ever this tradl Ihould be crtablidied. From the nofc to the root of tlie tail, a ftdi grown male is about ten feet long ; the hair on the back is of a brown colour, but on the legs, neck, and head is inclinable to black; from the lower lip, to the bread, a tuft of hair hangs down about a foot long ; on the hinder part of the neck is an exuberance of flcfli, or hunch, which is efteemed the mod delicious part of the animal, and which nuich augments an appearance that is at bed mod hideous. The male Buffldo is exceeding ferocious when wounded, efpecially in the copulating feafon, and frequently proves fatal to the Indians thcmfelves. They herd together in thofc fpacioas plains,' which it is probable extend to the South Seas. The female ad- mits the male in July, ahd brings forth in the month of March or April following. The horns are black, curved inwards, and a- bout a foot long; they fometimes fall off from tiie old females, but the males retain them ■VI, C* ' 159 ) tlicm to the laft. The weight of a full grown iiKilc is about one thoufimd pounds Engliih, and the flclb, at lead of the Cows, equally ellccmcd with our European beef. The old Bulls have no hair on them fuin- mer or winter, for which rcafon they feek the woods ; yet are neverthelefs fometimes fro'zen in fcvere feafons. Altogether, the Buftalo is of an appearance truly frightful ; the Bulls in particular ; which the great quantity of hair about the head, and the hunch contributes much to augment. ;i 1 •m:;; • 'S M i •' 111 -: :i:f • ■'■;•■■ • ••.1 '. ■•'..» ■■•■ •■■•■•^'^ » • ,f. I. I ■ ' t i- ..■I I Should this inland country ever be eftab- lilhed, and manufacturers fettled therein, every part of this animal would turn to ac- count : as for tallow, hides, hair, horns and hoofs. They might alfo be tamed to the plough ; and that with the greateft facility, by taking them young in the month of April or May, which a man who is fwift of foot may do v/ithout the afliflance of a horfe. T/jc ... •!, . . • ' f, I 1^> J' . '*'■ '"li I i " ■f.'- ■i r ' 1 ■■( M^ ^K f ' '■,;*■ <' ■ f ' _ ■( "I ■ 1^ ,-f I'if.S;^*' ■?.:.■:<■• ^^■■?:!^. •■ ■.■..•.'•ii'^'. - I -■^.•■^ ■•(,- .■':■ ?.'.■.•■>■ ' , r ■ ,-",V ■' IrJ'.'. ( i6o ) 7*/;^' Buffalo Pound. The Indians have various ways of killing the Buffalo ; one of w^hich is by cautioully approaching them when feeding. The hunter upon this occafion lies on his belly, and will fometimes fire his gun forty or fifty times without raifmg the herd. They alfo pur- fue them on horfeback, and flioot them with arrows and guns. But the means by which the greatcft numbers are taken, is by making a pound, which is conflrudled in the following manner : — ** They are either of a circular or fquare form, and differ according to the manner of the nation by whom tney are made. The fquare ones are compofed of trees laid on one another, to the height of about five feet, and about fifty on each fide of the fquare. On that fide at which the animals are in- tended to enter, a quantity of earth is laid, to tlie height of the conflrudion, fo as to form a hill oF an eafy afcent of about twenty feet. This done, a number of branches of trees /',.-. /,... FLni rf ,y Billi'iilr f nii,l . •■-.,>. ■■ i: ;(,:■; • ■ ,>; ■• 1.1' ■ II- 1- "• ■ '.''■i"';' '! ii. < < r '.' 1 f i. 1 u rf k^:' -' ,^1. Wi^' A';V{; m ( i6i ) trees are placed, from each fide of the front, in a ftrait Hne from the raifed hill, for about one hundred feet in length, continually in- creahng in width, fo that though the inward ends of thefe lines of branches are no more more than fifty feet afunder, the exterior end will exceed two hundred feet. After this, a number of poles, nearly fifteen feet long each, are placed at about twelve feet di fiance from each other, with a piece of Buffalo dung on the top, and in a ftrait line from the boughs abovementioned. At the foot of each pole a man lies concealed in a Buffalo fkin, to keep the animals in a ftrait dire(flion to the pound. Thefe poles are placed alike on each fide, al ways increafing in breadth from one fide to the other, and decreafing in the fame pro- portion as the animals approach the pound. Every preparation being now made, three or four men fet off on foot to find a herd of Cows ; for the Bulls they think not worth their trouble. Thefe they drive eafily along, till they arrive within the vicinity of the pound, when one man is difpatchcd to give notice to the other Indians, who immediately affcmble on hurfcback on each fide the herd, keeping .;i ■AM ) ' ' I. r . f ¥ vf- ■f: («•■■ r-' y ,1 ( 162 ) keeping a proper diftancc, for fear of fright- ening the animals. By tliis means they arc conduded witliin the «xterior h'ne of poles. It frequently happens that they will cndea-^ vour f/j go out ; to prevent which, the men who are placed at the foot of each pole, fliake their ikins, which drives the herd to the op- pofitc fide, where tlie others do tliefame: fo that at lafl they arrive at the pound, and fall in headlong one upon another, fomc breaking their necks, backs, &;c. And now the confufion becomes fo great within, that though the height of the building Ihall not exceed five feet, none will make their efcape. To elucidate this dcfcription of the Buflalo* Pound, I have roughly Iketched the annexed diagram. The Moose. This animal is numerous, according to thci fituation of places they frequent i and moun- tainous land is ufually made choice of by them. The hair is inclinable to black. The full-grown Moufe, is ahuut the lizc of a large horfe, with lofty palmatrd horns, ' . !i'rh fai .(:•' ( i63 ) fall off ill December or January. They engen- der in the month of September or 0(5>obcr, bring forth in May, and have from (;nc to three at a birth. Tlie Moofe eats no grafs, but fubfifls chiefly on the young branches of willows and poplars. They are not veiy plenty in the parts I have defcribed, and it is but feldom that above two arc met with in one place. The meat of the Moofc is juftly efleemed for its excellence. The Red Deer. The Red Deer is next in fize to the Moofe, but it is not equal to it in its cklicious fla- vour, on account of the peculiar quality in the fat, which turns cold fo very fall, that a perfon muft eat it the inilant it is taken from the fire ; and even then the mouth is fometimes lined with a G:reafe of the con- liflence of tallow. The hair is of a reddiih '■ .If'-'-* 'i '/'r^-kJ '.V i *-• . ■ I;- ... ■• "'"4 -;'•■■■ ( 164 ) produces one and fometlmes two t a tlin^. The horns are not palmated like that animal, but are round, branched and lofty, a.id fall off in March. Thefe animals are very nu- merous in moil parts of the country, and they afTociate in herds ; it is not uncommon to find five or fix hundred in a place, but they are not to be met vi^ith in the open fpacious plains where the BufFalos refort. Tumping Deer. This animal, though not half the fize, of the Red Deer, is not the frnallefl: of the fpe- cies. The one under defcription receives its name from the fmgular manner of its courfe ; this is by a continual fucceffion of jumps, which they perform with amazing celerity, fpringing at the diilance of fifteen or fixteen feet at each jump. It is a fmall clean-made animal, exceeding lively and gay, and is of a brown colour intermixed with grey hairs. Its food confifts of grafs, of the fiUen leaves of the poplar, the youi^ig branches of dif- ferent kinds of trees, and the mofs adhering to the pines, ^rhe horns are about two feet long, and rcfemblc thoic of the preceding animal, ■M ( 165 ) animal, except in fize ; they fiill off in the month of April. This handfome animal ruts in November, brings forth in May, and has one and fome times two at a birth. It is needlefs to add that the flcili is delicious. There are two kinds of the Jumping Deer, one of which has a very fliort tail like the reft of the fpecies, whereas the other kind has a tail about a foot lung, and covered TV'ith red hairs. ." t . . r Ap I S- TO- C H 1 K-O-S H i S H , I am not fufliciently converfant in the fcience of Zoology to give this beautiful ani- tnal its proper name in the Englifli language; |)erhaps it has never yet been defcribed in na- tural hifldry. The French people refident in thefe parts, call it the Cu Blanc, from a white mark on its rump. A more beauti- ful creature is not to be found in this or per- haps any other country. Extreme delicacy of make, ai\d exa6l fimilarityof proportion, are obfervablc in all its parts. No animal here is fo fwift of foot : not the flecteil: horfe or dog can approach XX. They herd together in L Urge "^J Mi ,.■:•<';.>;■." '"■*■■■. ■ ii', ■ ■ ■/■.■«■,• .-,;•••■-«•' i 'it** * ' ' ,■ i ''<'v- : !i-.. 'i ( '66 ) large clroi'cs, but fomctlnics three or four only are found in a place. Its horns are not ollificd like the other fpecics, nor arc they branched. Both male and fcniide have them, luit they never fall off: they rclemble more the horns of the Goat than thofe of the 13eer fnecies. They feed upon moft kinds of grafs, and tlvj tender twigs of trees. The whole l'jinJ:th may be about four feet and a half; the legs are white and llender; the reft of the body oi a light red, with a white fpacc on the rump. At the Stony Mountain and parts adja- cent, other cornuted animals are found vliich are entirely unknown to us here. People that I have converfed with on this fubjecl", wlio h;ive been there, defcril-)e a kind cf Goat; and alio an anim.al wnieli refcmbles our Slieep, the horns of the male of which bear a gren Hmilarity to thofe of the Ram. I have Icen large ladles nia(iv ol tlicfe Imrns, lome of N^.hicii would contain two quarts of water. Wilho'.rt doubt. if die i •iland parts were c: ^.|dored by -J L perfon of ]n"^en uity, many ulcful iliivovenes nii'':Iu b Diad e in every brancii of Nitiuc' b operation S a^^ WL-ll relat- ing •« • '.f' ( '('7 ) h)'^ to the vegetable as the animal world ; hut unfortunately thofe mercantile gentlemen who have hitherto been lent into this Terra incog- nita have been fo very intent u]x n the pe- cuniary emolument, arifing from the trade they are engaged in, as intirely to negledl every effort to obtain a knowledge of the country and its produdions ; tliough fuch an undertakin'j: would he attended with little or no exncnce, and would certainly redound much to their honour, if not to their profit. •'. • . ; '! , r' Having given a brief account of fuch of the four-footed tribe as contribute to the fupport of the inhabitants of the country, it will be nccefiary to mention the carnivorous animalb to he niet with-, as alfu the amphi- bious oncfi. I ijidui lilt iniljwr head we have Hears, two rj>ecic8 of WoKes, Lynxes, Foxes, VVolverins, &c. but as thefe have frt'ijiiLMitly been very particularly defcribed, I fhall give bill a concife account of each, viz. ' I ', ' i Ih \ Rs are of three kinds ; — the black, the red, and the grizzle Bear. The former h the leail of^enfiw, and, wh';n taken voun^, 1/ 7 th<; »{ V': -I * t > • > ■: ■ i/ • '"•■•.■.'■ J. ?^ .V ( '68 ) the moll docile and fufLcptiblc of kind ufagc. As to the other kinds, their nature is favai^c and ferocious, their power is dangerous, and their haunts to be guarded again fl. Tiie numbers of maimed Indians, to be (ci^n in this country, exhibit a melancholy proof of their power over the human fpecics. A Canadian, laft fumnier had his arm lafcerated in a dread- ful manner by one of thefe deflru6tive ani- mals : yet if a man is mounted upon a good horfc, he may attack one with fuccefs ; nor will they always fall on a perfon unprovoked. 7'hcy feed upon berries, . jots and flefli. Ill liu.imcr they travel about, but in winter they live in a (late of inanimation in fome re- 4tfs under i.:ound, and fuftain nature bv flicking their paws. Wolves are exceedingly numerous in this inland country ; where they find a plentiful fubfillence from the carcafes of wounded Buf- faios, and others which are left and killed b\ the natives. They are taken in traps and fnares. The Indians likcwife flioot them in the following manner: A Bulfalo being killed, and cut in pieces over night, the In- dians ^ • *, ■♦ ■ ,•- ( '69 ) duns appear at the place the next morning on horfcback, where they fiiul the Wolves lo over-'gorgcd with eating, as to he incapa- ble of retreating, fo that they become an eafy prey to the h'lnters. The Wolf is very vo- racious, and will confuine an enormous quan- tity of food in a fliort time^ but then he will go a Lonfiderable time without any k.nd of fubfiflence whatever. The {\dn becomes in feafon about the beginning of December; and the winter hair begins to fall off about the latter end of March, after the feafon of copulation is over. They are not fu large as thofe found on the fea iliore at Hudfon's Bay, nor are their flcins fo well covered with a warm fur. The Wolves are poffe/Tcd of much cunning and addrefs m procuring food ; in particular they will chacc the Red Deer in a direc^l courfe to a precipice, when that creature being on full fpecd, and not forefee- ing its danger, falls down with great force, and is inevitably killed, or prevented from making his efcape. Lynxes are fometimes met v/ith in the upper country, but fo rarely that I cannot witli L "^ vuiv '( ', . ! ' ■ T ; n '■■¥' :l IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 y^ 12.8 |50 "^" 2.5 2.2 1.1 f/^l^ 1.8 L25 1.4 ||||i.6 , ^^;^ Hill .« 6" ► /a '^, ^-^ Phoiiograpliic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 M- %^ any propriety rank it among the quadruped inhabitants of it. m <:'^. Foxes are not found here in fuch plenty or variety as on the fea coall, and it is need- lefs to add, that the fur is of an inferior quah'ty. There is a fpccies of fmall Red Foxes here which is not an inhabitant of thefe frigid regions. They fubfifl; on mice, and any kind of carrion which the fagaclty of their fmell may guide them to. The fcecun- dity of the Fox is remarkable, notwithfland- ing which, they are not numerous. WoL V E R I N s are fcarce in thefe parts . This beafl is as much addidled to peculation and cunning as any of the carnivorous animals whatever. He choofes rather to attempt the deflrudion of the trap than to enter into it. No Indian hoards of provifions are feeure from his difcovery. lie afcends trees with the greatefl facility; and if he is not able to deftroy the whole of the repolitory, he will hide the reft in as many places as there are pieces in the hoard. Ijuft ( >7' ) 1 jull: mention thefc animals, rather to fig- nify that they are natives of this country, than to attempt a defcription of them, which is ah-eady well known. For the fame reafon it is necelTary to add, tlvat the Fiflier, Martin, Mink, Badger, American and Alpine Hares, Ground and Wood Squirrels, Ermines, Muflc Rats, &c. are found here. •' . I The amphibious animals are Beavers and Otters. The ingenuity of the former- in building their houfes, flopping the current of rapid Creeks, and felling large trees,, can- not be fufficieutly admired. The Beaver is of a very docile difpofition, and when taken young and properly brought up, may be made to difcover a very faithful and affcdlionate re- gard for his keeper. I once pofTclTed a young male which, after a month's keeping, w^ould follow nie about like a dog ; and when I . had beeii abfent from him for a couple of hours, he would fhew as much joy at my return as one of the canine fpecies could pof- fibly do. It was embarked on board a fliip in Hudfon's Bay, and arrived in England -, but L 4 was I \ ' i':j :.,,-v ■ 'I 1:1 m m <''r'1;" , ■•■''"'J ■ ' " If ' .'%'•■■ S'l If ^.J ■'1 : 1 ■^^\ ■• 'm ' .♦■»>■.. '■• •..!^^•■ ( 172 ) was foon after killed by an Erquimaux dog, which was likewife Cent home as a curiofity. Birds /oca/ and migratory. I' 'if • *: 3-1 ■>6.: 1:.. »'**:."■ •■>'V. Thofc who winter with us, are a few fpecies of the Hawk and Owl genus, the Butcher-bird, tlie Magpye, and Raven, the Pheafant and two kinds of Partridges : but where I wintered we had not any of the Ptarmigans which are fo numerous 01^ the fea-coaft of Hudfon's Bay. A few of them are however to be found more to the fouthward, though of a diminutive fize. The country being fo well flored with animals of the larger kind, to fupply its inha- bitants with food, it is but feldom the fea- thered game are diilurbed. Notwithftanding which they are far from being numerous : and what is very remarkable, and exhibits at once the foftering hand of the God of nature, is — That in thofe parts of the coun- try, where the larger animals are the moft rare. Partridges, Rabbets, &c. are in the greatefl plenty 5 whereas in thofe parts where the ( ^71 ) the Moofc, Deer, and BafFulo are innumcra-r l;)le, fcarce any arc to be found. In the month of April bh^ds of pafllige begin to vifit thcfe countries. Of the mi- gratory tribe the Eagle, is the firfl feen, and from which tlie month of March takes its name among the Ne-heth-uw-a Indians. ^'4 vr ( There are two fpecies of fwans, Cccfe are in all tht variety to be found in any other country; as the large Grey-goofe, Canada Geefe, Snow Geefe, Laughing Geefe, &c. Ducks, Loons, and every other kind of aquatic birds that are to be met witii in America, are like wife found here. An ornithological defcription of thcfe dif- ferent fpecico would not only intrude upon my daily avocations, but is an undertaking to which I candidly acknowledge my abilities are not adequate. All I have propofed to myfelf in committing thefe remarks to pa- per, is to inform thofe who wifh to be in- formed, that the inland parts of Hudibn's Bay is a fine country ;-nris amply fupplied by nature '. ■ • •• t ': --\ • ' .! i '.'''■ •II,, ■■ '^f p I • 14' fit 'V lis v.M ■ ■ ! J ''i >.' 'yt: ( 174 ) Nature with mofl: tilings fiiflicicnt for the fu pport of m:ui and bead, either in a wan- dering or fettled Aate, — and that it is a part of the world which lias long, too long, been nc^lc(!led by thofe whofe duty to their eoiin- try, ought to have urged them to explore it. if this had been done, manifold would have been the advantao^es which would have re- fulted from their laudable refearches. Had this been done, the diftance to the fouthern ocean long e're this might have been afcer- tained ; — alliances have been formed with un- known nations of Indians ; — the produd:ions of the country been known ; — and perhaps the certainty of a north-weft paftage developed. :.-j' Among the birds of pafllige, who vifit us in the fpring are many of the fmall vocal kind ; vv^hich for beauty and diverfity of plu- mage, and the fweetnefs of their notes, may vie with thofe of more hofpitable climes, many of thefe little fongfters I have never feen any where elfe. I believe we have fe- veral non-defcripts, and perhaps fome wiiich are peculiar to this country in the fummer. Among '^ ( ^7S ) Among the rarely-found bird.s here, the Humming Bird dcferves a place. F I S II. All the fi/li we were able to procure in the winter were caught in lakes, but in the Ipring of the year, the river is known to a- bound with exquilite Stur;;eon. Thofe taken in the lakes were Jack, Guiniads, Perch, and a very bony fifli termed by the Englifli in thefe parts a fucker ; all which are excellent in their kinds. The method of fifliing in the winter feafon, when nature is bound up by the durable chains of intenfe frofl, is by letting down a net under the ice, which is done without much difficulty, even though the ice fliould be ^iiL feet tliick. An excellent fiili in talle, and in appear- ance much like a Herring, was caught in the river with a hook and line in great numbers. On the whole, fifli arc not fo numerous in the inland parts, as in thofe waters which join to the fea : however, if the finny crea- tion are fcarce, nature has made up for this deficiency • :.'■■> !|i: ': M::'l" ! m ■ : '41 ■'i ■ A m m ii '♦I m m^l •^ ' I, . Vi > „ i^ ' --J ■ ■ > * V. I 1 h' •>-:■■'■■■•> • A » •• ■■fs 'A. ■'i: vi .; ."<'.!'•;.. '♦ ■ t-' ■V^^ir ' If",''' ,. ■■.•i'H;'-'- t \ 176 ) ficficlency by fupplying a redundancy of the larger animals, which furnini both food and raiment for the inhabitants of the country. OJ the Indians, their Cujloms, &c. The Indians who come to our Trading- houfcs in the parts before defcribed, are the only ones we have any acquaintance with, and even oi4r knowledge of thefe, it mufl be owned, is very imperfedl. Thofe who have Jiitherto refided here, have been too much adluatcd by the impetuous defire of accumu- lating wealth, to allot a fmall portion of their time to the advancement of ufeful know- ledge, and indeed, to fpeak the truth, I have not yet met with one who had any more ingenuity than iiiclination to apply himfelf to a fubjedl which had no immediate prof-, pedl of advancing his pecuniary concerns. On the other, or weflern fide of the Stony Mountain are many nations of Indians, ut- terly unknown to us, except by Indian in-, formation, which we cannot enough rely ofi to I'm'-. ( '77 ) to juAify us in advancing for hdis, \vh*.t may, perchance, be founded in error and inifrepreientation. All I can fay ^^r certainty is, that a principal nation of thefe Indians is known to us by the name of the Snake In- dians. That all the other Indians we have received an account of go to war againfl them every fummer. In thefe war excur- fions many female Haves are taken, who are fold to the Canadian traders, and taken down to Canada ; contrary to the maxims of the lludfon's Bay people, who never buy them nor give any encouragement to this kind of traffic. It may be faid that this commerce encourages the Indians to make war on each other for the fake of felling the captures : but this is not the cafe. It is no more in the povver of the traders to hinder them from going to war, than it is of the Go- vernor of Michilimacinac, who does all in his power annually to prevent it: and as for the captives they are rather happy in the change than otherwife ; for if the conquerors had no profped: of making a profit by them, they would be all killed when taken ; but by being conveyed to Canada they are taught the .1 • ' ' '. ", J il ■' II.. •..:■■■!» 1,1; :i I ■-' „. ■ .!■ '•;'li .^o; r.ii! "im •V^'!, !:»■ «''::• 'lii J. ■■!l * -■ . ;' • tm 1% '"• ; i' hI! t'l' m ' % -.p..;,'! 1 ' . 1- ■■ 1 . I. ■■.■,; l.'.-l'.f.: iJ^"4 ( 178 ) the principles of religion, and become ufcful members of fociety. That there are European traders fettled amona: the Indians from the other fide of the Continent is without a doubt. I myfe)f have feen horfes with Roman capitals burnt in their flanks with a hot iron. I likewife once faw a hanger with Spaniih words engraved on the blade. Many other proofs have been obtained to convince us that the Spaniards on the op- pofite fide of the Continent r.i ;ke their inland perigrinations as well as ourfelvcs ; but I have have been told by one of thcfc Have women, that it is not peltry they come principally in queft of. Thofe Indians from whom the Peltries are obtained are known to us by the follow- ing names, viz. 'The Ne-heth-aw-a Indians, The AJjinne-poetuc Indiansi The Fall Indians, The Sujfee Indians, The Black-feet Indians^ The Paegan Indians^ The Blood Indians i Of ( '79 ) Of the Ne-iietii-aw-a LiJiiUis. This is t]ie name they give to thenifelves, and their language. They are feattered over a very extenlive country, for which reafoii they do not appear to he numerous, but v/ere tlie different tribes to be collected, this nation would hold much greater influence among the others tlian they feem to do. — I am of opinion, that the Ochipawa Indians, defcribed by Carver, and inhiihiting the countries to the fouth-callvvard, fprung from the fame orif?;inal ftock with the Ne-heth- aw-as. The great affinity of their language feems to confirm this conje(5lure ; for a perfon acquainted with the principles of one language, can without diillcul ty make himfelf underllood to thofe who fpeak the other. Thefe two nations have always been in flrid: alliance with each other, and many of the Ochipawas live in apromifcuous man- ner among the Ne-heth-aw-as, and upon very friendly terms with them, their country being infinitely fuperior to many of their northern neighbours, who inhabit a much colder track, and are poor in the extreme. . Of 1 1! li 1 .-■!!i \ '■.! 1: i,' u 1 ^i |ft )i :| If if'' '\ ^■^^ r'y. ^,r'" 'l^ ^l V'r& ( 180 ) Of all the different nations in thefe parts, whom the Europeans have found out to vend their commodities to, the one under defcrip- tion is become the mofl familiar. Their country being the lowed down on the river I have mentioned before, they have been the longeft acquainted with us, and confequcntly they are the moft debauched, incrvated, and corrupted. For, as I have more than once obferved, we have hitherto wofully expe- rienced that die favage race have always ac- quired more bad qualities than good ones from their intcrcourfe with Europeans. — This nation in particular become annually more difficult to deal with. Fraud, cunning, Indian finelTe, and every concomitant vice, is pradifed by them, from the boy of twelve years of age, to the decrepid and infirm old man of four-fcore. Nothing is more ap- plauded by them than fuccefsful peculation; Drunkennefs and theft are difllnguifhed ac- complifliments among all the nations ; but this people flands foremoft as the moft degenerate; It muft, however, be underilood, that the foregoing general outline of the Indian cha- radttf ( 'S' ) ra*5lcr relates more particuhirly to tliclr over- reaching in trade; for where that is not con- cerned, you will find inflanccs of honcfly lind fidelity among tlicrn which would do honour to a people governed by the wifefl: laws, and reftrained from the commilllon of every enormity by tlie force of religion. If the Savage commits murder, robbery, or any other crime of an injurious nature, the pangs of a guilty conlc.ience may probably upbraid him with the perpetration of the fli(fb; yet he is fo far from fearing corporal danger from that fociety whofe peace he has dif- turbed, that he will range through thef wilds of a pathlefs country, arid feek a fubfiflence in whatever part he choofes, without fear of retaliation ; for the country being extenfive, he finds out a fpot to live in unmole/led, where the offended party cannot, or dare not, go in quefl of him; This inflance of Savage liberty is juft men- tioned to exemplify to us that though the Indian is guilty of taking away the life of a fellow creature, though he glories in the commifllon of dexterous theft, and will with- M out i . i :^l . ml ;Ui| :' tifi- mm i :^Hii "T^ 4 •' r't^' 'I; 'ji''' V •';•;*' ( >82 ) out rcmorfe excrcifc eveiy injuftice on his neighbour with impunity; yet, as he is not rdlrained by divine or human laws from thcfe acfts of outrage, nor does the idea of temporal and eternal puniflimcnt excite corn- pundlion in his mi 1, furely thefe enormities are not of fo deep a dye as if committed by a man, whofe mind is enlightened, and wlio is fuppofed to have a more juft fcn^c of the claims of foclety and the injundtions of religion. As I cannot too deeply imprefs the idea, I rnuil again repeat that the greatefl pell ever lent into any country to render mifcrable its devoted mhabitants, never could exceed the deflrudive ihtrodudion of fpirituous liquors among the Indians.- Almoft every imper- fedlion of their natures, and every mifery they undergo, may be traced up to this baneful fountain. It is, during tlie time of inebri- ation that the murderer lifts the bloody knife, or tomohawk, again ft the parent or friend ; it is, during this temporary madnefs, that long-pafTed injuries and forgotten jealouiies are recalled fiom oblivion; it is during this fatal intoxication, that orphans and widows ar^ I '- ( 183 ) are made friendlefs, and tlie only fiipport oF a large family laid low in an inftant. Their unconquerable attachment to fpiritriOu.s liquors keeps them in endlcfs poverty ; lor to cbt.un it they even fell the milcrable cloathing off their backs. It is to be lamented that this evil feenis rather to gain ground thun otherwifc ; and can never be elted:uaily remedied, but by the concurrence of the Traders conjointly. - It would certainly be a laudable undertaking ; and the advantajres rcvcrtinci to thcmlHves from it would be manifold. ^^ 1 heir property and fervants would be more fecure, the In- dians by increadng in numbers would pro- cure a greater quantity of fkins, and the wars which ufually fubfifl between tlie different Tribes, would be lefs frequent and bloody. As a remarkable inflance of the honefly and fidelity which is yearly experienced from thefc Indians, I mention the following.-^— TheHud- fon's Bay traders who take up goods into the interior parte, annually, have occafion to em- ploy Indians, as well in carrying up the ar- M 2 tides r?:i . I-';] ■';. J <;. 1: 1 ;;,te,. ft* .■>■■■ I/' ,• WW l^'^ <■■•*■ - ' '<.:■ ••■, ■•'"•■^ _ - ".V'l ■1: ( 184 ) tides they barter with the natives, as m conveying down the fur? purchafed the pre- ceding year. An Indian with his wife will embark in his Canoe four packs cr pieces of fixty or feventy pounds each ; which he takes down through rivers [and lakes unfrequented, and known perhaps only to himfelf. In doing this it often happens that no other canoe is in company, and he confequently has the faircft opportunity polTible of going off with the property committer! to his care, which probably would enable him to live in affluence for years to come. Nor would there be any pofTibility of the owners difco- vering his retreat if he choofes to abfcond. And yet, notwithflanding the temptation is fo great, after a trial of fifteen years, it is a well-known fad:, that not an inftance has tranfpired of any embezzlement being made : on the contrary, the whole of thefe httle cargoes are delivered up with as mu?h punftual-ry, as if their future welfare de- pended m their honefly. The only reward for this fingular fervice, which is a very coniiderable (living to the Company, is the value ■^ ( >8c ) value of fix beaver fkiiic, paid for each pack or piece, and the further gratification of a fmall quantity of Englifh brandy; which they receive on their arrival at the fettlement. The Indians in the interior country are well made, and well featured ; they are of a copper complexion, and few diftorted or deformed objedls are found among them. Their con- flitutions are naturally hale and diforders few. The Venereal difeafe is known to them, but the malady is not fo virulent as in our hemi- fphere-j and it is eafily overcome with roots of their own difcovery which they apply them- felves. I have not yet heard of any dying of the diforder. They are more inclined to be of a lean habit of body than otherwife; a cor- pulent Indian is a much greater curiofity than a fober one. This may in a great meafure be imputed to the wandering ftate of life they lead, which requires much adlion, and fre-^ quent change of fituation. They are very friendly to thofe who ad with propriety towards themj; eipecially when far diilant from the Trading-houfes. M 3 Every I.' '', •f < i ii : llii m Pi i m bW' ifS'\i' ( 186 ) Every winter the fervants of the Traders will be fcattered all over the country among dif- ferent bands, and come in to their employers in the fpring, without the leaft violence being offered to their perfons or effedls. I a<:; 'i An Indian's drefs is compofed of a pair of flockings made of leather, drefl fine and pliable like fliammy 3 a fort of loofe jacket, with fleeves of the fame kind -, and over all he throws a dreft Buffalo fkin or a blanket. The hair of the young men is tied in different forms, and their faces fometimes pain-ted ac^ cording to their different fancies, but the men advanced in years, feldom paint their face, or tye tlieir hair. The drefs of the women differs not very materially from that of the men. When they can get cloth, they make a pair of fhcrt ftockings of it, alfo a kind of^lofe coat and fleeves of the fame, with a blanket or Buffalo fkin over all. Caps are very feldom worn either by male or fe- male ; but a drefl: Fifher or Otter fkin is fre- quently put round the heads of the men, the major part of which hangs down the back. The ( i87 ) The young men employ the greateft part of their tune in the care of their horfes, and in drefs and play. The country being lb fuperabundantly fupplied with animals fur food, little of their time is required to pro- cure it. In the furimer fcafon they either go to make war on their enemies, or flay at home in a flate of eafe and inadlion. ;Vh| ,(.; n;. In their war excurfions, the old men, wo- men and children ftay behind in a place of fafety ; while the younger part of the tribe cautioufly approach the confines of their ene- my's country. During their approach they make no fires, for fear of their adverflirics dif- covering the fmoke ; and they travel more in the night than in the day, that the dark- nefs may favour their attack. 11 ' ': ,■!? :i ■ I, When the encampment of the enemy is dif- covered, they lie in ambufh for the remainder of that day,' and when they fuppofe all wrapt up in fleep, the flaughter is began with a fe- rocity that Indian fury could alone infpire. Men, women and chlMren all fall promifcu- puily to fatiate the warrior's revenge, and M 4 compenfate y i ;,tifi ill m 'ki iiii P' :V i ; . .,5..., •■ ( 188 ) compenfate the lofs of deceafed friends -, none are fpared but young girls, who are taken captive and fold to the Canadian Tra- ders, and become thereby more happy than their flaughtered parents had ever been. ''"' ' i^JL' ■<■■ \u ■',. W .5? ': VOW- |i'/5: ^!H'i4. ^v '.'i Notvvithllanding the v^arrior ufes fo much addrefs to find his enemy unprepared, yet it fometimes happens that he is difcovered, and a fafe retreat becomes impra(flicable. In this dilemma both parties fight vdth great bravery, each fide being provided with coats of mail, made of many folds of drefl leather, which are impenetrable to the force of arrows : they have alfo fliields, made of undrefl Buffalo hides, which they fliift about in the time of adion with admirable dexterity and fkill. If but one man is killed, the engagement is at an end, and the Ipfmg party betake themfelves to flight, to lament their lofs at leifure. Some campaigns are wholly employed in flealing horfes, and in committing depredations on each others property; but the invader often pays with his life for his temerity. rr< Their ■•;■ !v,v- ( i89 ) Their horfes are of great fervice to tho Indians in thefe expeditions, and are much efteemed by them. Many of the men fuewr more affedion for their horles than for their wives. The horfes bred here are varioufly coloured, like our Englifli horfes, and about the fize of thofe found in tiie north of Scotland and the Scottifh ifles. They were originally imported by the Spaniards on the weflern fide of the Continent, and it is but lately that they have become common among the Nehethawa Indians, Many broils and animofities among the natives, originate from a defire of being in pofTeflion of thefe animals. One party generally commences hodilities by ftealing the horfes of their ad- verfaries, and they in return retaliate; fo that at length a mutual rcfentaicnt takes place, and war becomes abfolutcly necelfaty. The religious ideas entertained by the In- dians of thefe parts, like thofe before de- fcribed, appear to be very abflrufe and con- fufed. They feem to allow of a Supreme Being who dwells above, and whom they fuppofe to be the author of every blelUng they '^•C, :B •'i' 'II • 'i. 1 1. '! ; I I' •iiifi m m ii:;^'^ f i .. ■'if I*- :■>« ■'■■ I ■ •> • ft' » 4*" l»'» •' 1^ p ■• -l- l-v 11. •■ ■t if li ^'•'>^ _ . Vvl I*. :-'V-;, ( 190 ) they enjoy. They do not however invoke him to j)roted them, for they fay lie is too good to caufe them any harm. On the other hand, the evil fpirit they admit of, is held by them in abhorrence and fear. They imagine that through his malevolence and contrivances, they are perpetually haunted by misfortunes ; and they conceive, that he grudges them whatever they enjoy. They ther(£fore will not partake of any thing they fet a value on, without firft throwing a part into the lire for the evil fpirit. Many other fuperftitious ideas are very prevalent amongft them ', but they are too iimple to merit notice. The undulating motion of the Au- rora Borealis, is fuppofed by them to be their departed friends, v/ho are rejoicing in the regions of the bleiTed. From this idea they .fecm to have apprehenfions of a future ftate. The Nehethawa Indians, like the tribes before mentioned, meafure numbers by de- cads, as one ten, two tens, three tens, &c. and 49 would be expreffed by faying 4 tens and 9, or 5 tens wanting one, ..... ' . . . « • • • They i',, 4 ( '91 ) They divide the year Into thirteen moons, which arc all expreflive of fomc remarkable event at the time. The firii moon in the following lill came in on the 12th of De- cember 1784, and was called by them Pou-arch-e-kin-c-nnfli. — It is fo named from the wind blowing the brufli from the pine tree. Ke fha-pe(hem — or the Old Moon. Me-ke-fu-a-pefliem — or the Eagle Moon ; from thefe birds appearing about this time. Nis-cau-pefliem — or the Goofe Moon. A-theck-a-pefhem — or the Frog Moon ; the frogs beginning to croak about this time. O-pin-e-ou-wa-o-pefhem — fo called on account of birds laying their eggs about this time. O-bas-ka-wa-ho-a-pediem — on account of young birds being fledged at thi?^ time. O-pus-ko-a-pefnem — on account of birds molting their feathers. O-po-ho-a-pefhem — on account of birds tak- ing their flight about this time. O-noch- M, i . ■■! -P y * _* i '•< >''■:* 1 i.i.. it ;iii f^: Wi'Mr- lli !i nm 1 1."' Mm r hi i'f I: %;}< * i' '•f I ' y>-^ ■■■■ i • ■ I ^' ./K* <^ ,•1'.'' ( 192 ) O-noch-a-ha-to-a-pefhem — on account of all the animals of the deer kind rutting at this time. Opoon-a-ha-to-a-pcfliem — on account of the rutting feafon being over. Cus-cut-ta-no-a-pefhem — on account of the rivers freezing at this time. A-theck-a-peu-a-pc(hem — on account of the cold caufing rime to adhere to the trees^ This Indian method of computing time is very palpably founded in error, and can- not be made to anfwer to our year, or twelve callender months, which bring round the year exadtly. Whereas the Indian compu- tation by moons falls ihort eleven days ; con- fequently the moon which appeared on the 12th of December 1784, would appear about the iirft of that month in the follow- ing year, and fo on, having annually a re- trograde motion of eleven days. Whether it be to remedy this, or, what is more pro- bable, that they really think the year con- fifts of thirteen lunations, certain it is, they thruft in another moon. They do not, however^ 3 H ( 193 ) however, agree ..inong thcmfclves, relative to the number of days each moon contains. The language of thcfe people is concife* fmooth, and infinuat'.ng ; and fo copious, that by one word, they will exprcfs an idea, which would require three or four words to explain it, in the French or Englilh tongues. A Uifliciency is foon acquired to make onefelf underflood, but to fpeak it with a tluent propriety, requires time and attention. Juglcrs and itinerant dosflors are held in great reputation and reverence by the Indi- ans, who impute to divine infpiration, the bungling performance of a few legerdemain tricks. It is not uncommon for thefe jug- lers to pretend to dive into the abyfi of fu- turity i to foretel the fuccefs of a war ex- pedition ; and very gravely to point out the place where the enemy are to be found. Thefe gentry are always pofl'efled of more property than the others, every one making them prefents for adminiftering their medi- cines, which confift of a variety of pow- dered roots, &c. The bag in which the holy medicine . A- . I' 4 » ,■'* i!:i I % :f;i I' .s ««■ ...I'll ffl I if I m 1^* ,' >■ ) ( 194 ) medicine is dcpofitcd, is held in particular veneration, and it would be an unpardonable lacrilege for any woman to touch it -, for which rcafon the men in their journies bear thcmfclvcs the facred rcpolitory. Some of tlicfc curious performers of de- ception will pretend to lay eggs, and fwal - low wooden pipe ftcms, as large as walking Aicks. They will tell you very fcrioufly, that they are able to make rum, tobacco, cloth, &c. but whenever we put their dexterity to the trial, we always difcovcred the decep- tion. We took care always not to let thcni know that we liad done fo, for fear of lower- ing them in the efleem of their credulous followers, whicli would have been very mortifying to the ingenious performer. W: ■ ■*■*■, It is now time to fay fomething of the other nations in the liH: -, but the account I have to give mufl: be very concife, as we are almoll unacquainted with their cuftoms conftitutlons, &c. Our knowledge of the Nehethawas, as I hinted before, being the mod perfedl, the preceding account is more particularly !"'■'; ^i)- rf'' ( '95 ) particularly applied to that nation. The whole of the information I have been able to obtain in regard to the relt, is too fuper- ticial to induce mc to attempt a minute de- I'cription of them. \\ I ■y:i ASSINNEE PoETUC. This nation is thus named by the preced- ing one, which fignifies in their language* the Stone Indians. In the maps of North America, where the refidcncc of thcfe in- cognita is faid to be, a nation of Indians is marked down, called the Aflinneboils ; and this is the name by which the Canadian French, ftUl continue to call them. But it is a certain fa^i", that when the French pofleilcd Canada, they never named any na- tion of Indians with propriety. The laft: defcribed people they termed Crees; but their' rcafon for doing fo is only known to them- felves, unlefs it was from the Ochipewas calling them Criftineaux; which may pro- bably be the cafe. m The J'k' ! ill %i i'ii''" :. U li-ii m 'H h 'V»; . .i^ Ml; mi I ■■', ... . ■ - M<",. ■ - ■''■ |i 0. ,■■•>; l':^ nj;- ;>J; » *.,'.';■ j l^''^'''' t'. »;' ' ''•' fe ^' *,•■;", 1 ■ ■ y '■ K^v- vV-' rf'- ltjg.'_. ■'^ '.i P%.< '> ,,.*, W '!"'■;■■■■ Igtf ^ *■•'* ''^ \ ■ . ."'..■ *■. .- ': ■; . 1^-: ' >«,.■■ v-i ••■ i^lxoj ' ■.-•.>■ 1^1 *,■■;■'...'■ Hf^fl Ifl'/- IfS^ J ■r.^ ,* *»•■ » .*'. ' aJM f -^ ■ V 9 |9 ^.r^.;;^ ■••'v,^ ■'■.S - ■a1 !^:;'?V y.i '■n'';/ 1 ' ' '« . m ■ ■. \- . ' * ■ 'i-'Mv'^ .1 ■ W-'"' ^ '' ■„■ ' P i .'(.■' ^;:'.^^ 1 ii ( 196 ) The nation under defcription Is a detached tribe from the Naudavviiiees on the rivei* MithlTippi, mentioned in Carver's Tnivcls, '«vho anciently feparated from the general flock, on account of fome inteftins commo- tion. At prefcnt thefe tribes are declared ene- mies to each other 3 yet their language, from the bed information, has undergone no material alteration. The Afliiiee Poetuc Are pretty numerous, and are fcattered over a great extent of country* They bring many peltries to the traders, and are a principal fupport to the commerce. A large party of thefe Indians ufed to go down annually to York Fort on the coaft of Hudfon's Bay; but lince the Hudfon's Bay and Canada traders have penetrated fo far inland, they are too well fupplied with the things they want, on the fpot, to perform a voyage fo long, and attended with fo many inconveni- encies. In thofe days, however, they were much better off than they are at prefent ; as they, like too many other tribes, afe de- generating daily, through the frequent ufe of fpirituous liquors, and other debsucheries. Thef« ( »97 ) Tlicfe Indians have always been in flridl al- liance with the Nehethawas. Fall Indians. This nation is thus named by us, and by the Nehethawa Indians, from their inhabiting a country on the Southern branch of the river, where the rapids are frequent. As they are not very numerous* and have a harfh, gutteral language peculiar to them- felves, I am induced to think they are a tribe that has detached itfelf from fome diftant nation, with ^vhich we are not as yet acquainted. In this people another inflance occurs of the impropriety with which the Canadian- French name the Indians. They call them gros ventres, or big-bellies ; and that with- out any reafon, as they areas comely and as well made as any tribe whatever ; and are very far from being remarkable for their corpulency. N they ■ 'd 1 i i 1' ' \% • I, I .1 ,„..r i( '^:r . if'' i'ii f ill '4 • it;:.- v. : I '»>' Iff v»^. «« ■* ' 'w! ,'. "•■1 !■«-'■ f •.'■»K.'■^.'•• ■•'•■•fer-- r^. ' ' ' ( 198 ) They feem not yet to be initiated in^o thtf manner of hunting beavers, dreffing the fkins, and killing the fmall peltries, for they bring nothing to us but wolves, which they take by a variety of contrivances. Though we have interpreters for all the other Indian languages, none as yet have been able to attain a competency of this ta make themfelves underftood -, and the gene- ral method of converfmg, is by fpeaking the Black-foot tongue, which is agreeable, and foon acquired. Th SusEE Indian^. !* ' ■ r vr- l'< if A Though this nation have a language in- tirely to themfelves, and which no others can learn, they are very fcvv^ in number, being no more than a fmall tribe which has feparated from the main body, and now harbour in fdme country about the Stony Mountain, where they keep to themfelves, for not many have as yet appeared at any of the trading-* houfes* Thofe who occafionally vifit us are a crafty ( 199 ) fcrafty deceiving fet, much given to theft and intoxication; Though their tribe is finall» they cannot live in amity with their neigh- bours ; for the laft fummer, a number of them fell upon an encampment of Blood Indians, whom they were at peace with, and mod of the men being abfent, they inhumanly butchered feveral women and children, which it was expedled would be feverely revenged the firft opportunity. Thefe Indians are lazy and improvident ; tiicy bring us very few peltries, and thofe ill dreft. Wolves fkins are their chief com- modity. Their women are the moft or- dinary of any I have feen, but they are all liberal of thqir favours, when a perfon has wherewithal to pay for them. They retain a clofe alliance with the Nehethawas, rather to profit by their protedion, than for any miitual efteem, fubfi^ing between them. Their language is equally difagreeable and difficult to learn; it rather refembles the confufed cackling of hens, than thd ex-, predion of human ideas j yet one of our interpreters has attained a fufficiency of it N to '; i i m 'iu-.' » ■ 11, p}i. L«.. X ^is^ [• . • , ' P, '"■''.'■." J-v; .■!'4.' H • ^f ;••■ '•!■'; In; • ■<„■■.•. '■ '• J'', '.t ^m , .. 'r. • ■■■■■" i'V* . '.: v|*'- ',:■':;. ^* V :► J' ■'•■' I.' ^' ."V ^'ft. 4 ■>«. ,- ■. .<■ ( 200 ) to anfwei the purpofe of trading with them. T/jc Black-foot, Paeg^^n, a?2d Blood Indians. Thefe Indians, though divided into the above three tribes, are all one nation, fpeak the , fame language, and abide by the fame laws and cuftoms. For what reafon they are thus denominated, I have not been able to difcover, but they go by no other name among the Nehethawas. They are the mofl numerous and powerful nation we are acquainted with ; and by living on the bor- ders of the enemies country, are the prin- cipal barrier to prevent their incurfions. War is more familiar to them than the other nations, and they are by far the moft for- midable to the common enemy of the whole. In their inroads into the enemies country, they frequently bring off a number of horfes, which is their principal inducement in going to war, - ^ Thefe ( 201 ) Thefe people are not fo far enervated by the ufe of fpirituous liquors, as to be flave? to it ; when they come to trade they drink moderately, and buy themfelves necefTaries for war, and domeftic conveniences. They annually bring a good quantity of fkins to the traders, but a greater number by far of wolves. All thefe tribes have a cuftom peculiar to themfelves, which is the cutting off the joints of their fingers, be- ginning v/ith the little finger, and taking off a joint as often as fupcrAition prompts them. I have not been able to learn for certain the caufe of this fingular cuftom, nor did I ever obferve any but the old men, that had their fingers thus mutilated. They behave very friendly to thofe of our people who pafs the winter with them, and none of them have as yet received any in- jury under their protection either in their perfons or effeds. The people of this na- tion will eat no kind of water-fowl, am- phibious animal, or fifli. Their chief fub- liftance is the flefh of buffaloes, the deer fpecies, and likewife vegetables. Their lan- N 3 guage .•• •! I ^ ! *,i,. I t I I i't' ■If i mi' ! \ri i¥M m ( r It I- ''ii^f,: r? 5P" i ''■■ - ■ f;>. IT > ■^ ' >( p.. i'."^'-' r :M m ^^■ !& i4, jv.. Pi^ 1 i 1 i ', '■''■■ B-i >::'-i: "M- •;^- a t ( 202 ) guage is not very grateful to the ear ot ^ ftranger, but when learnt, is both agree- able and expreflive. I have been at fome pains to procure a fpecimen pf the languages qf the aforemen- tioned nations, and nave fucceeded in all^ except that of the Snake-Indians. The an- nexed table nniay perhaps be acceptable to thofe who are curious in that line. The ex- adt orthography of the words, according ^o an Englishman's pronunciation, may be depended on, having received them with great care, from the mouths of the natives themfelves, It ftrikes me as a matter of no fmall cu- riofity to obferve the multiplicity of genuine Indian languages to be met with in this weftern hemifphere; perhaps not half of them are mentioned in the given fpecimen. I know of other tribes to the fouth-eaftward and northward of us, who fpeak other lan- guages, but have not been able to obtain cer- ]tain intelligence of them. , Befor? / To face Page 202. A ihAY, between that Coaft and the Coaft of '1 I'ians. Snake Indians. Suflee Indians. An I'.yc • • • Se-nou-woh A Pair i 'Jift-Ier A Shirt Si-cho-wc-cher A Knife Marfli A Foba Mif-tu-tey A Hat Sif-cau A Pair < Tobacc< Me-cui-chin-cr A Rabb A Cua Til-te-tha Brandy . • To (iiinpow Til-tc-the-tuf-er Cull ril-the-the-tan-ny Chihhe A Hatcl A File Til-tc-the-te-co-fcy T/ey A Dog f ire Coo An ano 1 1 \ 1 Hil-tun-ney A JJov A Pot Tar-ney Jieads u * • ♦ Uce-chit-Ier Cloth A Horfd Che-we-fey Che-che-nun to-er A Kettli Uf-faw Shot AnTccUj A Han4 i Seef-ul-er A Scraii A Coml A Pair . U-wil-twey Char-uc-ee-chey Se-ut-ee-fer Paint, ii An Awl U-ti-el-ee-chey Chalthe Rings A Powd See-lar-o-tar-ny i Ut-te-gar One Two 1 Uk-ke-er 'I'hrce Four Five Six Seven Eight Nin<; • * Tau-key Ta-chey Cu-cel-ter Uce-tun-nee Che-che-ta Tar-titch-ey Ke-cutch-ee-gar lea 1 Cu-neefe-nun-nee ... .•■) " I \.i :•';: "■1 ■ !!■ I ■I '' :u mm ii'l 'Mi A SPECIMEN of fundry Indian La^^guages fpoken In the Inland Pa C A L I F O R : Ne-hcth-awa, or r.nglifli Names. Ka-lif-te-no. ;\n I'.yc Ske-fhic A I'air of Stockings Me-tas A Shirt Pau-pau-ke-wi-an-a-fau- •g' A Knife Mo co-man /\ J'obacco-pipc VVuf-pwog-an A Hat ra-tuf-tin A Pair of Shoes Mef-kc-fin-er Tobacco Shccf-tem-mou A Rabbit Wau-pus A Gun Paf-ke-fa-gan Brandy or Rum Sku-ta-wap-pue (iunpowder Kaf-ka-tew [lull Mo-fwor-finnec A Katchet Chic-a-ka-gan .A Kile Kif-kim man A Dog At-tim lire Scu-ta All a now At-tuce-er A h'ov Au-chap-pey A Pot iVlin-ns-quog-an llcAds Me-ke-fuc Cloth Man-ne-to-a-gan A Horfe IVlif-tut-tim A Kettle Uf-keek Shot Af-fin-nee An Tec Chizzel Af-fif-wy A Handkerchief Tap-pif-cog-gan A Scraper Man-ne-twe-as A Comb Sic-co-hoan , A Pair of Mittins Ef-tif-uc Paint, i.e. Vermillion O-thum-min An Awl Uce-katch-ic Rings At-chan-is-uc A Powder Horn Pe-che-pe-quon One Pi-ac 'iWQ Ne-lhu 'i'hrce Nif-to Four Na-ou Ki'.e Ne-an-an Six Un-coot-a-wafli-ic Seven Ta-pu-co Fight J -ay-nan-na-ou King Ke-cat-me-tar-tuc Tea Metartut Af-£in-e-po-c-tuc, or Stone Indians. «»%*«HW^M mm^mmmmmm ^tmmammmmmt - - "^^ lllcr Ucc-ker U-ke-no-fis-o-bun Meen Chnn-nobe Wap-pau Hump Chan -dee Muf- tinge Chu-tung Min-ne-wong Chock-ney Jan-jude Occ-o-pa Yume ohong Pate Wau-hin-dip In-tar-feep Emin-e-ar-ta-ki O-ay Shin-nunte Shu-gar-tung Cha-ger Mug-ga-chude Pit-ta-hay Nump-imb Wau-hin-dig Im-bar-gidge Nvm-pin-dib Wau-fhus Tar-hifp Num-fo-kin-dar Tau-hay O-jin Nomb Yar-min Tope Starpt Sharp Shar-co Shark-noh 1 Nam-pe-chonk ' Wee-kee-chem Fall Indians. Nun-ncc-foon Nun-nor-tor Ne-wced-thu it Warth Pe-chou-on ri-u-it-te-ter Nub o-on-er Cheef-ou-on • • • Cutf-i-er Nuts Hidth-er Cutf-i-er-notce Oh-en-orcc Oh-er-er Hudth-er U-fit-ter Utce ee Bart In-au-un Can-ar-ti-u Nau-odth-i u Wau-ce-hoth Ma-ja-a-tian-au Cha-chu-chi-o-noche Thou-wau Same as fhirt Won-ut Char-i-uh-ay Node-thoth Na-olth-i-er-in-o Bay Tha-ith-e-te-an Ne-nis Kar-ci Neecc Narce Ne-an Yau-tune Ne-te-ar-tuce Ne-far-tuce Nar-fwar-tuce An-har-be-twar-tuce Met-tar-tuce To face Pa^e 101, the Inland Parts of HUDSON'S BAY, between that Coaft and the Coaft of A L I F O R N I A. Fall Indians. un-ncc-fo on un-nor-tor e-wceJ-thu it c-chou-on i-u-it-te-ter ub o-on-cr heef-ou-oa • • « utf-i-cr uts idth-er utf-i-er-notce h-en-orcc h-er-er udth-er fit-ter tceee art i-au-un an-ar-ti-u au-odth-i u 'au-ce-hoth a-ja-a-tian-au ha-chu-chi-o-noche hou-wau ime as (hirt on-ut liar-i-uh-ay ode-thoth a-olth-i-cr-in-o ha-ith-e-te-an e-nis ir-ci eecc arce s-an lu-tune e-te-ar-tuce B-far-tuce sr-fwar-tuce i-har-be-twar-tuce et-tar-tuce Black Foot Indians. Wap-pif-pey At-chis E-ftoke-fo-char-fim ['A to-un Ar-qui-in-e-man Af-che-mo-gan Atch-ce-kin P if- tar can Au-chif-tau Nar-mi O-key Chatch-o-patch Au-wauk-fb-bun Kuk- far-keen She fliar-ne-ter Ame-tou If-chey Ap-pif-fey Kitf-nar-mi Meek-lhim-no-coce Com-on-e-crif-to-man Shic-a-pif-chey Pin-ne-cho-rae-tar If-key Ar-fope-fey Sum-mo-to-ke-mar-chis No-kin Match-ee-cun Mar-ke-kin-arch No-chich-ey Au-fun Mo-kis Sap-jpe-kln^if-cho-fin Utf-kin-ner Tokef-cum Nar-tokef-cum No-hokes-cum Ne-fwe-um Ne-fit-twi Nay ■^ Kitf-ic Nar-ne-fwe-um Pick-fee Kec-pey Sufliee Indians. Se-nou-woh *;ift-ler Si-cho-wc-cher Marfti Mif-tu-tey Sif-cau Me-cut-chin-cr • • • Til-te-tha To Til-te-the-tuf-er ni-the-the-tan-ny Chilthe Til-tc-the-te-co-fcy Tley Coo Hil-tun-ney Tar-ney • • • Uce-chit-ler Che-we-fey Che-che-nun to-er Ur.faw Seef-ul-er U-wil-twey Char-uc-ee-chey Se-ut-ee-fer U-ti-el-ee-chef Chalthe See-lar-o-tar-ny • * Ut-te-gar Uk-ke-er Tau-key Ta-chey Cu-cel-ter Uce-tim-nee Che-che-ta Tar-titch-ey Ke-cutch-ee-gar Cu-neefe-nun-nee k... n* > rv" 'i 1% r m \i-f''i.f A J .' \ ' - ' V 1 - ^ ■ ' ■ • • : ' V « Wk. * *•« i' ■ - ( *03 ) Before the fatal attack of the fmall pox, "which broke out in the year 1781, all thefc nations of Indians were much more nume- rous than they are at prcfent. By this dreadful vifitation, which, as before obferved, was general throughout the Indian country, it is computed that at lead one half of the inhabitants were fwept off by it. 'I 1 1 I" *:iiJ \ ■• -/f irief Account of the prefent State of t/je Trade, carried on among the afore" /aid Indians. Trade with the before mentioned Indians, is carried on by the fervants of the Hudfon's Bay Company, and alfo by feveral merchants from Canada. The extraordinary perfeverancc of the latter, through numberlefs difficulties, augmented by continual carrying- places, ex- tenfivc lakes, and rapid rivers, have penetrated into this diftant country in order to fupplant the Hudfon's Bay Company, who formerly divided very confiderable profits from the N 4 cxclufivc \ ! I if m I? w tf.'- .•.('. /■ ■^w^ p^'* ' if' ( 204 ) cxclufivc monopoly of this lucrative branch of trade. At prefcnt thefe profits are cou- fiderahly diminirtied ; for while their expen- ces are augmented in a ten-fold proportion, upon an average of former years, their im- ports of furs arc confiderably lefTened, and their exports of fundry articles of mer- chandize are increafed, they being obliged to trade upon a higher ftandard than here- tofore, to keep pace with their opponents, who vyould otherwife outfcll them, ' ■! Jl • en ■^.^\^ *M* ■■*; ' H, *I^', V 1 ,.t vc ■ 1 1 .-» *• . / ■ i .-^m': n ^ p.jik #x In entering on this account it will be need- ful to repeat many circumflances that have already been noticed. But as the further elucidation of the fubjedl requires it, I hope the apparent tautology will be excufed. Twenty years ago the Governor of York- Fort, which was thi Company's principal efta- blilliment in the Bay, annually fent home at lead thirty thoufand fkins, and maintained no more than twenty-five men, at very low wages ; at prefent that place has upwards of one hundred men at it, who have increafed falarles, and it fends home no more than twenty 1'"' .4 •14 ■ ( 205 ) twenty thoufand (kins, upon an average, from itll'lf and four rubordinatc fcttlcmcnts; and tlicfc arc procured at an cxpence, which a few years back would have been looked upon as next to an annihilationof their com- mercial cxiflencc. M It is an uncontrovertable fa(ft, that fincc the French have evacuated Canada, the fur trade from the inland parts of Hudfon's Bay, has been carried on to a greater extent than ever it was before ; for the Company, who till . then confined themfelves to the fea-fliore, knew nothing of the numerous nations in- land; andthefe again knew as little of them: that the Company, notwithftanding they had obliged themfelves by their charter to explore the whole of their territories, con- fined themfelves within a fmall circle. They confenuently did not exert their influence to procure peltries, or to augment the con- fumption of Britifh manufadlures, by any other methods than through the channel of a very few Indians, comparatively fpeaking. Thefe Indians however, brought down enough to enrich a few individuals, whofe intereH ■i ' I < 1 1 tii i,... 1 jT I. piwi mH iiiil: W\ -■ I, ■ 1 ■, ■ i^i5i.'.'4^' : \ ■ ■■■' 'I, ¥:-' l^«v-/^'^ ( 206 ) intcreil: it was to prevent too great an influx of furs, which would not only lower the price at market, but probably open the eyes of ar injured commercial people. In the days I am alluding to, the port of York Fort was furroundcd with nations of Indi- ans entirely unknown to the traders of the Company ; and they would have remained in the fame ftate of ignorance to this day, had they not been awakened from their re- veries by the unfurmountable perievcrance of a few Canadian merchants, who found them out, through obftacles and impedi- ments attended with more danger and per- fonal hazard than a voyage to Japan, Since that time their affairs have under- gone a material change in thefe parts. The Canada merchants annually fend into the in- terior country, for the Indian trade, about forty large canoes of about four tons burthen each, a confiderable part of which goods are conveyed to thofe Indians who ufed to fend their furs down to Hudfon's Bay, by the Indian carriers, which did not amount to half the quantity at prefent procured. So that by this inteference of the Canada traders, • It V.^1' 'J^^ ( 207 ) it is evident, that many more peltries arc procured and imported into England, and a greater quantity of its mahufaftures con- fiimed than heretofore ; and when it is fur- ther confidered, that thefc goods are of a very inferior quality, which perhaps would hardly find a fale elfewhere, this extenfion of the trade will appear an objedt not very inconfiderable. '•H i i, ■'(i By the profccution of this commerce from Canada, the Hudfon's Bay Company found themfelves efFedually fupplanted on the fea- fhore, the natives being fupplied inland with every conveniency for war and domeftic ufcs. This induced the Company, in the year 17731 to begin their inland voyages, fo that the Canadians from Canada and the Europeans from Hudfon's Bay met together, not at ail to the ulterior advantage of the natives, who by this means became dege- nerated and debauched, through the exceflivc pfe of fpirituous liq lors imported by thefc fiyals in commerce, It ' " 1 i* .;■>. ■ .i' $ WP It/'- tt •■'* \ •»'■•■ ' ;^:;'' 'r- ^ ' '\ 7 A' .• * *■ irr; ■■■■' ■hkh p ^B. 1 s 1 p ■if ^.-i: il »>^^ ( 208 ) It however mufl: be owned, that the Hudfon's Bay traders have ingratiated them- felves more into the efleetn and confidence of tlie natives than the Canadians. The advantage of trade is evidently on their fide ; their men, whofe honefly is incorruptible, being more to be depended upon. In propor- tion to the goods imported, the Company- export a greater quantity of furs, and thefe in better prefervation, and confequently , more valuable. Their unfeafonable parfi- mony has hitherto been proved very fa- vourable to their Canadian Opponents ; as the accumulated expences attending fo dif- tant an undertaking would overbalance the profits of the latter, if the exertions of the Company were adequate to the value of the prize contended for. The Hudfon's Bay fervants being thus more in pofTefiion of the efteem of the na- tives, they will always have the preference of trade as long as this conduft continues. Another great advantage in their favour is, that the principal articles of their trading goods are of a fuperior quality to thofe im- ported fj ■4v-,, >an <,■■ ■ ■ . [4M ^•x;.'; m ^ :::.X- ':■'■'■ '.:.'■:/- *:> :l!t :•.'■ ■:? " ■.■ ■'M '^.•'/4 M 1,1- v*V t'H ^,l' in ^ir^^. ( 210 ) and dlfgufl:, even by the Indians, who finding themfelves frequently deceived by fpecious promifes, never intended to be performed, imagine the w^hole fraternity to be impreg- nated v^rith the fame failing, and accord-, ingly hold the generality of the Canadian traders in deteftation and contempt. On the contrary, the fervants of the Hudfon's Bay Company, imported princi- pally from the Orkney IMes, are a clofe, prudent, quiet people, ftricftly faithful to their employers, and fordidly avaricious* When thefe people are fcatterred about the country in fmall parties among the Indians, the general tenor of their behaviour is con- duded v^^ith fo much propriety, as not only to make themfelves efteemed by the natives, and to procure their protedion, but they alfo employ their time in endeavouring to enrich themfelves, and their principals, by their diligence and unw^earied afliduity. By this prudent demeanor among the Indians, notwithftanding they have annually expofed themfelves to all the dangers incident to the trade^ for fifteen years pad, they have not ( 211 ) not fuftained the lofs of a man ; and the principal advantage of the Company over the Canadian traders, is more to be attri- buted to the laudable efforts of their fervants, tlian even to the fuperior quality of their goods. "/ I . ■■ H While the Canadian fervants are (6 far from being actuated by the fame principles, that very few of them can be trufled with a fmall aflbrtment of goods, to be laid out for their mafters profit, but it is ten to one that he is defrauded of the whole by com- merce with Indian women, or fome other fpecies of peculation. By this and various other means which lower them in the eyes of the natives, as before obferved, they are become obnoxious to the Indians, their faith is not to be relied on, nor their ho- nefty confided in; fo that fcarce a year elapfes, without one or more of them fall- ing vidims to their own imprudence, at a time when fatal experience fhould teach them, that a conduit guided by caution and difcretion ought to be the invariable and uniform rule of their behaviour. It y I ■'ill' % l''^'ki'."' Ic,*''-; ■''' 1 1 ^ J 'Si ,1 ' hi ( 2T2 ) It mtifl be owned, that many of thefe people are pofTeffed of abilities capable of aggrandizing their maftcrs, and promoting their own welfare. They are very apt at learning the Indian languages, and acquiring a knowledge of the necefTary Indian cere- monies, as well as cuftoms to be obferved in profecuting the trade ; but in the whole courfe of my obfervation, I have fcarcely found one of them, who, for his abilities, honefly, integrity, and other neceflary qua- lifications, could be intltled to the denomi- nation of a good and faithful fervant. It cannot, however, be denied, but that they are excellent canoemen, and labour with furprizing dexterity, and inimitable patience, in their long inland voyages ; and even when their provifions fail them, they bear their misfortunes with fortitude. But at the fame time it muft not be admitted that ♦they are the onfy people on the face of the earth, who are capable of performing thefe voyages and undergoing the fatigues of them. Though fuch may be the fentiments of thefr employers, let thefe gentlemen for a whik look ia'\ ]i1 I; ;i i ( 213 ) IcJok round them, and furvey without pre- judice the inhabitants of our own hemi- fphere, and they will find people who are brought up from their infancy to hardfliips, and inured to the inclemency of the wea- ther from their earlieft days j they will alfo find people, who might be trufled with thoufands, and who are too much famili- arized to labour and fatigue to repine under the prefTure of calamity as long as their own and their mafters benefit is in view. I will further be bold tofay,thattheprefentfervants of the Hudfon's Bay Company may be led as far inland as navigation is pradicable, with more eafc and fatisfadlion to the owners than the fame number of Canadians. The former would be always honeft, tradable, arid obedient, as well from inclination, as from fear of lofing their pecuniary expec- tations ; whereas the latter being generally in debt, and having neither good name, in- tegrity, nor property to lofe, ar6 always negledful of the property committed to* their charge^ and whenever difficulties arifc, there is never wanting fome among theiti ta inntpede the undertaking, O I have , M y ' J ,1 ul-' rw- ?Vfli^v. b>: • ; V' fe^.- . I,*';.. ■■ ■, [5 ,'•.,, ( 214 ) I have been led into the foregoing digref- fion, from the frequent encomiums I have heard pafTed on the Canadians, as the only people for this bufmeiSj but having had four years experience of the general tenor of their condud, I thought myfelf entitled to give my fentiments on the fubjed, and to fay fomething in regard to thefe Mejjieurs Voyageurs. The Canadian merchants have formed themfelves into a United Company, and carry on a very extenfive bufinefs over an unlimited extent of country, among Indians, who are hoftile and declared enemies to each other ; and this branch of the Canada trade is by no means the kaft valuable appendage to that province. This Company alone, without counting thofe adventurers who trade in the parts which be adjacent to tbe Miffiflipi, &c. annually procure above one thoufand packs of fine peltry, each weigh- ing ninety pounds. They find employment for a great number of men under the deno- mination of guides, voyagers, clerks, in- terpreters, 6cc. ; befides which, they give byead .'iir ( 2'5 ) bread to a number of neccflltous artlds and labouring people about Montreal, who fubfid principally by the continuation of this commerce. In the year 1787 they obtained out of this river three hundred and three packs. During the fame year the Hudfon's Bay traders had twenty canoes of twelve packs each - - - 240 And twenty Indian canoes carrying four packs each, at feventy pounds 80 Which were equal to two hundred and forty-nine French. So that if the Canada traders had the commerce of this river entirely to themfelves> they would draw as much from it, as would be equal to one half of their prefent returns. The fame year the Canada merchants tranf- ported into the fame river fix hundred pieces of goods about ninety pounds each ; whereas the Hudfon's Bay people fent no more than two hundred and forty pieces of about feventy pounds each; which plainly points out to us O 2 the r».- ')• > ■ f. • i ■ k-> i '!^i ^'^' Bft]i> i ■'•• , Rwi '■■';^f Kt** r. ■'•. ■Mj^i ;'', . PV' » it ! . S "^ ' '■1 ' "►*'ll 1 \ ^ !;•■) : ;^ !/■ '.j^ Wi\'- '1 » ,■> 1 1"< a >'^.'V, B . '^^ AJ-.i rfj risl i* '^^ l£!a ■y^ ■'.: r-l ■'•V'.M,.' kI ^;^^ ?■ ' '• % ■w (4*1 ^.-r- r ji| '•'■;■ tl i _, V fa »'*■■' ., a ■***/] ,'^'"'lt»'.' \i''. 1 ■ ' :' .'■■2 ■y ■:• ^;- ■<;■"■ !;'''.: ^'/■;/- r-S''j .;;M;;;,y 1" ■-■'.* ■'*■ ; .'i . ' •-■'.■',' ■ il* ^ "■■; <;'*.; I'fi' ^-^t jr*^ ■■ v..' ;^ •n ,>v,'V 'JB *f',> 'i ^gjl ,'i-V? HN •' ..•: ( 2l6 ) the great ccconomy which is ufed on one Tide, and the enormous expenditure on the other. It may be urged that the plan purfued by the Canada merchants, requires a great part of their goods for the ufe of the men. This appears an argument of confequcnce ; yet to obviate it, we muft confider, that the difference in the force of Englifh brandy, and what is called high wines, will more than ov^erballance the reduction advanced to the men ; for a keg of Britlfli fpirits, when adulterated for fervlce, will only make three kegs, whereas a keg of high wines when mixed for the Indian trade, will make five kegs ; fo that what it requires to mix thirty kegs for them, we with ours can have fifty kegs. Since I have embarked in the Canadian employ I have frequently obferved ^a profufe expenditure of goods made to Indians, for very frivolous ends, or more properly for no end at all ; which to my certain know- ledge is not prad:ifed in the other fervice. This pradice is produ6live of nothing, but the corruption of the Indians, and the tempo- porary ( 217 ) porary flattering promifes of thofe who receive them ; for, as I have already obfcrved, the advantages of trade annually preponderates on the fide of the Hudfon's Bay Company. I.H h: Thofe who feel the weight of this expen- five undertaking, mufl certainly join with me in acknowledging, that a frugal ceconomy is not only commendable, but neceflary, in the expenditure of their property ; perhaps had this plan been purfued, fome of thofe gen- tlemen who ftill continue the bufmefs, might at this day have enjoyed their eafe and inde- pendence, by the fruits of a commerce, which has obtained for the Hudfon's Bay Company the reputation of being one of the richell: in- corporated bodies in England. The maxim of fuffering the Canadian traders to run fo deeply in debt, appears to be founded in error, and prejudicial to the affairs of their employers. Thefe fellows, who are loft to every principle of moral reditude, become loofened from all attach- ment to the fervice ; they are intent on nothing but their own peculiar eafe and convenience ; O 3 they '.1, 1 ; '1;!' \.:"\ H B.i.-'' ( 2'8 ) tliey nrc carclcfs of tlic property cntruftcd to them, unambitious in the performance of their duties, impatient of all order and de- corum, difohedicnt to the inftrudtions, and iiifulting to the pcrfoiis, of thofc who employ them. They cannot be trufted in any trading party, for they will expend the goods they have with them on women and trifles, ima- gining thcmfclves out of the reach of all law ; and there feems to be very few worthy of trufl among them, but fuch as have wages in their employers hands. I ft V' I'v.,, , IV.:". ■•;■■;* My good wiflies for the profpcrity of tl Canadian fervice is fuch, that I cannot help fubmitting with all due deference to fuperior abilities, the following expedients w^hich oc- cur to me, but which, moft probably may fiever be put in execution. To make the Company truly refpedlable, ajid at the fame time to put in it their power to render the province of Canada of greater conlideration to the mother country than it is, they fliould be legally admitted to the rights, immunities, and privileges of a char- tered ( 219 ) tcrcd Company ; aiul if it were pradicable, they riiouhl be united with the prell-nt Ilud- fon's Bay Company, as we have fecn an old and new Eafl India Company united and in- corporated in one joint body of mcrchantii. And perhaps fuch a jundion might not be un- acceptable to the Hudfon's Bay Company, who, for fo many years, have tafted the iweets of monopoly. I am fully perfuaded that nothing is re- quired but intcreft and proper application to bring about fome plan of thi nature. The magnitude of the objedl would juflify the ex- periment ; and I have no doubt but that many refpedlable perfons would be found to pa- tronize an adventure, which would put the proprietors in pofl'elTion of a greater extent of territory than what is inhabited by all the Chriflian States in Europe. I again repeat, that great improvements are to be made, and much wealth acquired from the feas about Hudfon's Bay ; and likewife that full as much remains to be done inland ; but while affairs are carried on in thofe parts of the globe, upon the fame footing they O 4 are 4?^ ■••■ ( 220 ) are at prefent, tiicre is a probability that all thefe countries will remain as utterly unknown 10 the world, for ages to come, as the regions within the Polar Zones. Ms ■■ ■ ■ 1'" ; ; i\ - * : '/*, -' ■■; rj .. i^'*." I.-' m ■yr> i! : :^ ' ' \V.\ •4 . ».„. h. I') l' •J i V ■»■ 3,' IV • <^' t* >?-n^ h ryv''l' <.;'"■.< t ft-^^l ^i . ■'. ' ■/ ■'■^1 •' ■ jr " , ■ .'=■ f- i"^ f .'..'■ '«':'■. ,i>-r; ^u ^' r^^ Jl 'V. 1 r;-v .■ ,' l-».. ■ ■■.-.■ '>; "•■,. Kl ', . *'^■'' :^ ''.■.!> ■■'"*>« ■V.|'** ■ * J ^^s 'J ^.'.f "^hM ■ . ■:% >.^9 V*% '« • "^|: ■IH ~'-^:!i I am fufHciently aware of the intereft, ap- plication, time, perfeverance, and expence neceflary to bring about a matter fo difficult and complicated in all its parts, as the im- portant matter above hinted at -, but a thing once begun is more than half compleated ; and it behoves thofe who are peculiarly con- cerned therein, and know the utility of the objedt, to make that beginning. No period, in my opinion, can be more favourable than the prefent. When fo many fair provinces have been wrefled from the mother country, ©n the fame continent, it is our duty to point out every feafible method by which the parent flate may cheriih and bring to perfedion the remainder. JoURNAI* ,»•*- ( 221 ) Journal of a Journey from Montreal fo New York, /;/ the year 1788. On the 14th of May, 1788, I left my wintering ground, where I had been about four years ; on the 8th of July arrived at the Great Carrying-place on Lake Superior ; on the 15th of September reached Mon- treal 5 and on the 25 th of the fame month I took my departure from that city to travel to New York. September 25, 1788, I left Montreal, in company with a gentleman defirous of pur- fuing the fame rout. About four in the af- ternoon we traverfed over to La Prairie, a fmall village about two miles above Mon- treal. '•.^ 26th, Hired a cart and two faddle horfes. to proceed with our baggag-, towards St, John's, through a wretched country, the roads being very bad, and the land very un- promifing. The town oi St. John's, which IS ^^■.' ( 222 ) is eighteen miles diftant from La Prairie, makes a very formidable appearance. Here were to be fee ^ a ihip of eighteen guns, and another of twenty-two, with feveral other fmall craft, which were employed in Lake Champlain during the late war. A fhip called the Wafliington, of 1 6 guns, alfo lies here, and which was taken from a part cf the American army under the command of General Arnold. The fame day we took boat, and proceeded about five miles on the lake. I •■>,• ^ ■■ m. a \"-i%; .5. 27th. The wind being unfavourable, we went but fifteen miles, and then made for the fhore, and put up at the houfe of a Mr. Barran, a fcrjeant in the 44th regiment. His houfe was very prettily fitted up in the Englifli flile, and is by much the neateil I have feen among the country let tiers. 2 8 th . Left the houfe of our very hoipitable landlord, but the wind being ftill contrary, ^e did not proceed aboye ^x miles. ?9th. n Bi.C:>,V- I.i ( 223 ) 29th. The wind becoming favourable, we made a good flretch in the Lake untiU twelve at night, which brought us to Ti- conderoga. We had pafled by Crown Point in the night. 30th. From Ticonderago we proceeded about thirty miles farther to Skeenlborough, the eftate of General Skeene, which he was obliged to abandon on account of his adherence to the royal caufe. Here a faw-mill and four houles are eredled. Lake Champlain is about one hundred and fifty miles in length from St. John's to Skeenf- borough. Its diredion is about N.W. and S.E. and it is feJdom above two miles wide, cxceptat ^he wideil part, the middle of it, which is com- puted to be twenty miles over. About twenty- eight miles from St. John's is the extent of the Britifh territories in this quarter ; all the re- mainder of the lake belongs to the United States, At fourteen miles from St. John's is Ille au Noix, a fmall iiland, very well adapted to command the channel of the lake, but it is gt prefent in a ruinous ftate. It flill however retains i! f W: k: >■ ( 224 ) retains a fmall garriTon, part of the 60th regi- ment, for the fake of regulating the trade between Canada and the United States. Ex- clufive af this garrifon, there is a brig, mounting cightcarriageguns, ftatloned within the American lines for the fame purpole. As wc pafTed Crown Point in the night I can fdy nothing of that ancient French fortrefs. Tlconderoga is a rocky point, and by its fituation effedhially commands the palTage of the lake. It appears to have once been a place of confiderable ilrength, but it is at this time much negledted. t'l' fe'. ■ ■■-' y. Immediately oppolite is Mount Indepen- dence; a lofty point, where fome fortifica- tions have formerly been ered:ed. Between thefe two forts the Americans built a tem-* porary bridge to impede the paflage of the King^s troops from Canada 5 but the forts being evacuated on the approach of the troops, the bridge was fawn very leifurely in pieces. A traveller in paffing thro' lake Champlain, is rather diflrefled, when he lands, with the variety ll, i} ( 225 ) variety of currency in the country ; for on the Canada end of the lake the dollar is valued at five (hillings; on the North fide, which is in the ftateof New York, it is reckoned at ci?ht fhillings i and on the South fide, which is in the ilate of Vermont, at jQx fhillings. Odober i . Agreed with a Mr. M'Kinlj, for the ufe of his waggon from hence to Al- bany, beingfeventy fourmiks, for eight dollars. We went from Skecn{borough to Fort Ann, through the woods, on horfe-back, a tfadl of twelve miles, where we found our waggon ; and proceeded the fame day to Fort Edward, twelve miles farther, through a very good road. i 2d. Continued our route, and put up at Still Water, Had there good accommodations, and a civil, agreeable landlady. 3d. About nine in the morning we ar- rived at Albany, through a moft agreeable country. From Skeenfborough to Fort Ann, the road is exceeding bad, and leads through a trad very little cultivated. The peafants are ^ W:l ^.■> ■<>.;■. ( 226 ) are very intelligent and improve tlieir farms with apparent induftry. The land produces in great abundance Indian corn, potatoes, water melons, pumkins, 6cc. and the finef: timber I ever beheld. As we advanced to- wards Albany the roads became better, the ground more cultivated, and the buildings made a more refpedVable appearance. •V • ■'.■'■■ MM''"'- fm 11 '*••. ■ vx<-, m From Fort Edward towards Still Water the appearance of every thing ftrikes the eye of a ftranger with pleafure, as he beholds a" beautiful country under the hand of im- provement; a Briton, however, in paffing,, cannot but iympathize with the unfortunate General Burgoyne, and his brave followers, who unhappily became captives at Saratoga. At Still Water we fiiw a regiment of Ame- rican militia manoeuvring, to the apparent fatisfadion of their officers, but in our opi- nion they cut a forry appearance indeed ! Their guns were old and rufty, and the cloathing of this motly troop, conlifted of every fhape and (Colour, that was ever known or invented. Some wore cocked hats, fome i]anped ■ :;; I"' ''. ( 227 ) flapped hats,and fome no hats at all. The major part of them,being juft taken from the plough, ilooped down as though they were admiring their fhoe-ftrings. Some were clad in waill- coats without fieeves , but by much tlie greater part of them had their carcaies inclofed in horfeman's coats, funilar to thofe worn by Hackney-coachmen. We pafTed the houfe and mills of General Scuyler. They have been lately rebuilt, hav- ing formerly been dellroyed by General Bur- goyne's army. The water of Hiidibn's river was very low, and we crolTed it four times in our waggon, between Albany and the New City. Albany is computed to contain five hundred houfes, moflly of brick, fome of which are tolerably well buih. The greater part of the inhabitants are low Dutch. It has an Eaglifli church, a prelbyterian meet- ing houfe, and another for the Dutch. It is but a folitary place, and the people do not feem to be very fociablc. At the time I was there, no hard money was to be got ; and paper money fufFers a difcount of eight per cent, all over the province. O^ober i ! m ^■\ 1'" .'■ . 't..." r- ( 228 ; Odober 4. Wc left Albany and embarkcJ on board a flooj" configned to New York, but had not continued the voyage above three miles, before the veflel got aground on the flioals, where we remained ibur days in much diflrcfs, ftriving every tide to difengage our- felves without effect, 7th. We left the veflel, and embarked on board another, called the Arabia, Wyncoop, mafter. .■'of mi •;'«,': ^•v/ ".ft ' •■.';■• 8th. We this day paflxid the new Town of Pludfon, about thirty miles below Albany^ This town is a Handing monument of human induftry, being entirely built fince the con- clufion of the war. It is beautifully fitu- ated on an elevated fituation, has many ex- cellent buildings, and bids fair to rival Al- bany for trade, in a few years; particularly on account of its being fituated below the fhoals. It cannot contain lefs than twohundredhoufes> the firft ftone of which was laid in 1784. A very excellent floating machine is eredled for the purpofe of drawing up the fand from the ■« •- ( 229 ) the bed of the river, but the contrador for the job has made very Httlc progrefs, not- withftanding it is two years fince the com- mencement of the undertaking. The famous Hudfon's river, which we find fo much extolled in defcriptions of this country, appears to me not to merit the praife given of it. The diftancc from New York to Albany is one hundred and fixty miles, and no farther is this river navigable for veflels of any burthen : and even in this diftance, veiTels drawing eight foot water meet with much difficulty in certain places. 8th. and 9th. We had light airs, which prevented us from making much way. The country is all along beautifully fettled, and makes a pretty appearance from the water. Chefnuts, walnuts, and apples, are fo plenty, that travellers help themfelves en paffant-with^ out ceremony. Cyder is the ufual drink among the country people, but I cannot fay much in its commendation. The peafantry, as I remarked before, are hofpitable, intel- ligent, and inquifitive, but are rather grip- P ing p? '-'0., •^,' ( 230 ) ing on travellers, particularly the Low Dutch. loth. This day we had a fine breeze of wind which foon conveyed us to the city of New York ; a place too well known to re- quire any defcription here. •v h- F I N I S. i'^ t ; (> ■ r;- . t • ■ f- I'**. i? 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