VENISON. 73 



exceeds 1350 geographical miles, and the space 

 between the Company's posts on the Labrador 

 coast, or on Lake Huron, and their advanced station 

 on the Porcupine, measures about 2500 miles. 

 Throughout this vast extent of territory, a regular 

 communication is kept up between the Governor 

 and the numerous scattered posts, and supplies are 

 forwarded to all the districts annually with a 

 regularity which cannot be interrupted without 

 hazarding the lives of both traders and natives. 

 Besides the establishment of fisheries for our winter 

 support, Mr. Bell employed several of the most 

 active Dog-ribs in the capacity of fort hunters, 

 furnishing them with clothing, guns, and ammu- 

 nition, to be repaid in venison. He also gave large 

 credits of ammunition and other articles of trade 

 to several leaders of small bands for the same 

 object. In the end of September and in October, 

 which is the best hunting season, we heard of great 

 success. Two hundred carcases of rein-deer were 

 reported as having been put en cache for us, which 

 we were to send for as soon as the snow was 

 sufficiently deep to permit the dog-sledges to run. 

 A few animals killed near the fort were brought in, 

 and our prospects looked flourishing. In the mean 

 time the Indians sent a sick man and a very aged 

 woman to be nourished by us through the winter, 

 and a large body of old men, elderly widows, and 



