JOURNEY TO FORT SEVERN 131 



On our way we sighted several parties of Indian and 

 half-breed trappers, with all of which, except one, we had 

 communication. One party, with a Hebrides man at its 

 head, occupied a small stockaded post on one of the lakes 

 under the Company's aegis ; and we also passed a deserted 

 post, or house, with the stockades around it intact. But 

 there was not a soul there, for we landed in the hopes of 

 obtaining necessaries. This river seems to be a favourite 

 one with the trappers, for we found many of their old 

 camping- places and deserted huts along its banks ; but 

 we saw no game except a few birds of the grouse family, 

 and gulls on the larger lakes. A few fish were caught, 

 and these and dried venison subsisted us till we reached 

 Fort Severn. 



Here we parted with all our pelts except those I 

 reserved for my own use, receiving in return flour, salt 

 pork, coffee, tea, sugar, and powder, to the extent of about 

 (in my opinion) one-thirtieth the value of the furs 

 parted with. But it was a case of Hobson's choice ; and, 

 I must admit, a boon to get the goods at any price. 

 Starvation is a wonderful depreciator of money value. 



I need say nothing about Fort Severn. The descrip- 

 tion of one fort is, almost without exception, the description 

 of all. My opinion of them as military posts has already 

 been given. The stockades with which they are sur- 

 rounded are so badly constructed that they would not keep 

 a determined enemy outside ten minutes. Fortunately 

 they never, in any instance, seem to have been put to the 

 test, for the Indians in these parts are a most inoffensive 

 race of people. I never heard of a murder or outrage 

 being committed by them ; but, strange as it may seem, 

 the half-breeds are very fierce if provoked, though, as 

 with the Indians, serious crime is almost unknown among 

 them ; and the solitary white hunter may wander from 

 one end of the land to the other and be far safer than he 

 is in a walk through many of your rascally cities. He is 

 sure of kindness and hospitality, and if he is robbed it 



