THE TRADING-POST. 163 
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height of an ordinary man from the top of these 
pickets, is carried along the sides of this square, 
so as to enable anyone to peep over without 
being in danger from an arrow or bullet. The 
entrance is closed by two massive gates, an inner 
and outer; all the houses—the chief trader’s, 
employés’, trading-house, fur-room, and stores— 
are within the square. The trade-room is 
cleverly contrived so as to prevent a sudden 
rush of Indians; the approach, from outside the 
pickets, is by a long narrow passage, bent at an 
acute angle near the window of the trade-room, 
and only of a sufficient width to admit one savage 
at a time. (This precaution is necessary, inas- 
much as, were the passage straight, they would 
inevitably shoot the trader. ) 
At the angles nearest the Indian village are 
two bastions, octagonal in shape, and of a very 
doubtful style of architecture. four embrasures 
in each bastion would lead the uninitiated to 
believe in the existence of as many formidable 
cannon, with rammers, sponges, neat piles of 
round-shot and grape, magazines of powder, and 
ready hands to load and fire—and, at the shghtest 
symptom of hostility, to work havoc and de- 
struction, on any red-skinned rebels daring to 
dispute the supremacy of the Hudson’s Bay 
M 2 
