40 THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE BY LAND. 



supported are sufficient evidence of tliis. But, shut 

 out in this distant corner of the earth from any com- 

 munication with the rest of the world — except an un- 

 certain one with the young State of Minnesota by 

 steamer during the summer, and w^ith England by the 

 Company's ship which brings stores to York Factory, 

 in Hudson's Bay, once a year — the farmers find no 

 market for their produce. 



It is the interest and policy of the Company to 

 discourage emigration, and keej) the country as one 

 Tast preserve for fur-bearing animals. The colony has 

 therefore been recruited almost entirely from their own 

 servants, who settle at Fort Garry on their retirement 

 from the service. It is also their interest to prevent 

 any trading except through themselves. In 1849 

 they attemj)ted to enforce their monopoly of the fur 

 trade, and four half-breeds were arrested for infringe- 

 ment of the laws by buying furs from the Indians. 

 The half-breeds rose in arms, and a revolution w^as 

 imminent. The trial was not ]3i'oceeded with, and 

 since that time they have been content to put every 

 obstacle in the way of free-trade, by tabooing the 

 offender, and refusing to furnish him with anything 

 out of their stores. This obstructive policy keeps 

 up a continual ill-feeling amongst the indej)endent 

 population of the settlement, who naturally enough 

 have little belief in the justice of laws framed, as they 

 imagine, for the protection of the Company rather than 

 for the general good. The members of the Legislative 

 Council, the magistrates, and all other public officers, 

 are nominated by the Governor. 



The Hudson's Bay Company have, we believe, 



