1891-92. ] EARLY TRADERS. O13 
They are fugitives (in general) from Lower Canada or the colonies who 
fly from their debtors or the law, and being proficient in all sorts of 
vice and debauchery corrupt the morals of the savages and communicate 
to the wretches disorders they might have continued untainted by, were it 
not for the intercourse with these exgagés. Having contracted new debts, 
they fly to the more remote posts where they recommence the same 
rade.”’ 
The population of the settlement did not exceed 2100 of whom 127 
were slaves. The French Canadians he described as easy-going and 
illiterate, few of them being able to read and still fewer to write their 
town names. “They build on the borders of the Straight, and occupy 
about thirteen miles in length on the north and eight on the south side. 
The houses are all of log or frame work, shingled. The most have their 
orchards adjoining ; the appearance of the settlement is very smiling.” 
The new settlers on the other hand were active and enterprising. 
They had introduced sheep and black cattle and their farms were man- 
aged to the best advantage. All the large vessels on the lakes were 
owned by them and he anticipated that in a few years the Canadians 
would be compelled to part with their lands and become reduced to the 
condition of dependents. It is stated, apparently on good authority, that 
there were then only thirty Scotchmen, fifteen Irishmen, and two English- 
men in Detrgit, exclusive of the garrison, but the greater part of the trade 
of the place was already in their hands. 
The population was considerably increased during the war by the 
arrival of fugitives and prisoners from the frontier who were encouraged to 
settle on lands in the vicinity. Indian parties accompanied by white 
officers were constantly sent out to harass the borders of Virginia and 
Kentucky and traders followed in their trail with packhorses as far 
as the villages near the Ohio. The portage from the Miami of the Lakes 
to the Wabash had been made passable for carts and the exclusive right 
of carrying goods was granted to Mr. Maisonville of Detroit. 
At Niagara there was not a single inhabited house outside the walls of 
the fort. Glimpses of the state of trade and the life of a trader at that 
post during the Revolution are found in the correspondence of Francis 
Goring. 
Writing on the 23rd of Sept. 1779, he says :—“ I have lived at this place 
three years last August, and have had two masters in that time and am 
now getting a third, still in the same house. The first was Mr Pollard, 
he made a great fortune and left off. The second, Mr Robison, who 
was formerly a captain on these lakes, is now tired of business and assigns 
