The Home of the Wolverene and Beaver. ^7^ 



edifice termed the " store," in which was to be 

 found every conceivable article that the reader can 

 imagine, anything, in short, " from a penny whistle 

 to a sheet anchor " as a sailor would say. The 

 Indians advanced one by one to a counter behind 

 which were stationed i\Ir. Groves, Paul, and the 

 interpreter. Each man was accompanied by his 

 squaw, who carried one or more bundles of furs, which 

 were placed on the counter, spread out, and carefully 

 examined. Mr. Groves then made them up into 

 bundles, and handed the owner a number of little 

 pieces of wood, each of which signified the value of 

 a beaver skin, or castor, as it is termed in some 

 parts of the territory. This is the recognised 

 standard valuation, and according to it everything 

 is reckoned, for cash is utterly unknown. A bear- 

 skin is w^orth so many beaver-skins, a marten's 

 skin worth so many, and the whole having been 

 assorted and valued in the presence of the hunter, 

 the equivalent number of pieces of wood are made 

 over to him, and he can purchase whatever he 

 pleases, handing back the wooden labels as payment 

 until his store is exhausted. The Indians watch 

 the counting and the process of valuing with the 

 keenest interest, and strive to drive the hardest 

 bargains possible, but as the castor only represents 

 a purchasing power of from one to two shillings, and 

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