254 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [ Vou. ITT. 
had actively exerted themselves to confine the English colonists to a 
comparatively narrow strip of land along the Atlantic seaboard while they 
jealously retained the commerce of the great country behind, almost 
exclusively in their own hands. In this policy, they had been so far 
successful that in 1756 they held a chain of forts extending from Montreal 
to the foot of the Rockies. The posts of Presqu’ Isle, Le Boeuf, Venango, 
Du Quesne, commanded the navigation of the Ohio. They had stations 
on the Chicago, St. Joseph’s, Wisconsin, Wabash, and Illinois Rivers 
which quite monopolized the trade of the surrounding country. Thriving 
settlements of long-standing at Kaskaskia, St. Louis, New Orleans, and 
elsewhere on the Mississippi gave them full control of that mighty river. 
They had establishments at Prairie du Chien and Lake Pepin in 
Wisconsin. Pascoya on the upper Saskatchewan was 900 leagues 
beyond Mackinac and the journey usually occupied three months. 
Their most. western post was still 100 leagues beyond Pascoya. La 
Verendrye, Le Gardeur de St. Pierre, De Niverville and other bold 
adventurers had explored the adjacent country. Determined efforts 
were made to wrest the trade of the Northern Indians from the Hudson’s 
Bay Company. The northern shore of Lake Superior and the rivers 
falling into the Lake from that direction were thoroughly explored. An 
expedition fitted out at Mackinac ascended the Michipicoton or Pijicic 
River as far as they could go; hauling their boats overland to the head 
of Moose River they dropped swiftly down that stream and took the 
principal British factories on James Bay by surprise. They returned 
- by the same route with their booty and when the French flag was final- 
ly lowered at Mackinac, two small cannon were found there which had 
been taken in this daring raid. 
It is still possible to ascertain pretty closely the extent and value of 
their trade as it existed in 1754 just before the final struggle began. The 
Indian country had been mapped out into districts, and traders were 
strictly prohibited from passing the limits of the district for which they 
obtained licences. They were also forbidden to carry spirits except for 
their own use or to sell any to the Indians. Each trader was required 
to report at the post of his district before going out to trade and again 
on returning. The commandant of this post heard the complaints of the 
Indians and if they appeared well founded, promptly redressed their 
grievances. 
As Sir Guy Carleton remarked, “They did not depend on the number 
of troops, but on the discretion of their officers, who learned the language 
of the natives, acted as magistrates, compelled the traders to deal 
equitably, and distributed the King’s presents; by this conduct they 
