OF THE COUNTRY. 33 



meat alone. They raise no corn and eat none. Their daily 

 food in all seasons is meat, the daily rations for a man being 

 7 Ibs., and for a woman, 5 Ibs. But, while Mr. Kitson be- 

 lieved that the valley of this river enjoys a milder winter cli- 

 mate than Montreal, he is doubtful whether Indian corn would 

 ripen in it any more than it does on the Ked Kiver, which is 

 considerably farther south, and where it is only grown as a 

 garden plant. He thinks the route this way, and over the 

 Eocky Mountains to Frazer's Kiver is quite practicable. Indeed 

 the country, as far as the Eocky Mountains, is said to be so 

 level that the journey might be made the whole way in a car- 

 riage. 



Nor would the fur trade of the Hudson's Bay Company be 

 materially interfered with if their lease of this valley of the 

 Saskatchewan and the Eed Eiver should not be renewed. They 

 derive all their best furs from the Mackenzie Eiver, and the 

 vast territory to the north and east. Buffalo skins are their 

 chief produce at present from this rich tract of country, and 

 these are of minor importance. 



But the English people have a duty to perform to them- 

 selves in this matter. If they are to hand over to Canada the 

 absolute property in this great territory, Canada should be 

 made to pay all claims for compensation to which the Hudson's 

 Bay Company may be entitled. Why should we be taxed for 

 an object in which they are chiefly interested? If the terri- 

 tory is not worth more than the sum to be paid as compensa- 

 tion, why take it from the Hudson's Bay Company at all ? 

 Speaking in the interest of England alone, it seems to me that 

 it is better for us to have an English Company sharing among 

 themselves in this country the surplus profits of that region, 

 than that we should pay a large sum in compensation merely 

 for the pleasure of transferring the property so acquired to 

 Canada. The Canadians are the best judges of its value, and 



