The Home of the Wolverene and Beaver. 85 



and argue from this that the Hudson's Bay Company 

 treat the Indians unfairly; they are short-sighted 

 men, I say, and know not of what they speak. 

 That old rough flint has often cost more to put in 

 the hands of that Dogrib hunter than the best 

 finished central-fire of Boss or Purdey." 



In the selection of articles in exchange for his 

 furs the Indian is often sorely puzzled ; he sees 

 around him many coloured blankets, gaudy chintzes, 

 and calicoes such as his heart loveth, and much 

 tobacco, without which he can hardly be said to 

 exist. His vanity prompts him to exchange his 

 castors against such finery, though prudence whis- 

 pers audibly that the bitter winter is drawing nigh 

 apace, and that it were better to prepare for its 

 vigour by the purchase of warm clothing and new 

 steel traps. In this state of indecision the influence 

 of a favourite squaw is often all-powerful for good 

 or evil ; if she is prudent the castors will be profit- 

 ably laid out, if not, the reverse will take place, and 

 a few yards of coloured ribbon, chintz, and beads 

 will be all the hunter has to show in return for 

 many months hard and dangerous work. 



After the trading was finished for the night, the 

 Indians withdrew to the shores of the lake, where 

 their squaws had built rough shelters of pine- 

 boughs, under which they retired to contemplate 



