1892-93.] EARLY TRADERS AND TRADE ROUTES. 307 



of the Indian trade and the state of the mihtary posts on the lakes. 

 They left Montreal on the 2 1st of August and arrived at their destination 

 on the 15th of September, having been delayed for three days by high 

 winds on Lake Huron. Their course was described by Hope in these 

 terms : — " Up the Grand River (Ottawa) from Canesadago to Matouan 

 (where we quitted it), 117 leagues with 16 portages ; up the Little River 

 to the entrance of Lake Nipissing, 18 leagues with 15 portages; across 

 that lake 12 leagues ; down the French River, 25 leagues with 3 carrying 

 places, and across Lake Huron to the Island of Machilimakinac 79 

 leagues; the whole making 251 leagues with 34 carrying places, after 

 which, when I observe to your excellency that the shallowness of the 

 water and rapidity of the current in these rivers are such as to render it 

 absolutely impossible to navigate them in any other craft but bark canoes, 

 it is of course unnecessary almost to add that this communication can 

 serve no other military purpose than to forward expresses to the upper 

 country, or perhaps to throw a very small reinforcement of men into 

 either of the posts of Machilimakinac or Detroit upon emergency, in case 

 of any part of the other by the lakes being intercepted for a time." 



He returned by way of Niagara and examined the conditions, terms, 

 and mode of transport across that important carrying place. "On the 

 nth of October arrived at Carleton Island. I embarked in a batteau 

 next morning and after visiting the post of Oswegatchie and seeing 

 those very ingenious and useful cuts and canals that have been made to 

 facilitate the navigation up these amazing rapids at Coteau du Lac and 

 some other adjacent spots, the current brought me down to Montreal in 

 something more than 48 hours, though a distance of near seventy 

 leagues, and which to ascend with loaded batteaux even in the longest 

 days of the summer season seldom takes less, I am given to understand, 

 than fourteen days and at this time of the year nearer twenty." 



The only trader who published a record of his experiences in the 

 country to the north of Lake Superior during this period, that has come 

 to my notice, was J. Long, whose travels appeared in 1791. 



After serving seven years as an articled clerk to a Montreal merchant. 

 Long entered the Indian department as an interpreter. In 1777 he left 

 his employment and became a trader in the service of a northwest fur 

 company at a salary of ^^150 per annum. Leaving Montreal on the 4th 

 of May with two canoes de maitre, each manned by ten Canadians, he 

 arrived at Mackinac on the 17th of June. He then proceeded to Sault 

 Ste. Marie and on the 4th of July reached Pays Plat, where his goods 

 were unpacked and made into smaller bales, as it was estimated there 

 were a hundred and eighty carrying places to cross before arriving at 



