260 June 1749. 



liquor, and that fometimes they do not get 

 one half or even one tenth of the value of 

 their goods. I have been a witnefs to feve- 

 fal tranfadions of this kind. The mer- 

 chants of Albany glory in thefe tricks, and 

 are highly pleafed when they have given a 

 poor Indian a greater portion of brandy than 

 he can bear, and when they can after that 

 get all his goods for mere trifles. The //;- 

 dians often find when they are fober again, 

 that they have been cheated, they grumble 

 fomewhat, but are foon fatisfied when they 

 reflect that they have for once drank as 

 much as they are able, of a liquor which 

 they value beyond any thing elfe in the whole 

 world, and they are quite infenfible to their 

 lofs, if they again get a draught of this nec- 

 tar. Belides this trade at Ofwego, a num- 

 ber of Indians come to Albany from feveral 

 parts, efpecially from Canada ; but from 

 this latter place, they hardly bring any 

 thing but beaver-fkins. There is a great 

 penalty in Canada for carrying furs to the 

 Engtifo, that trade belonging to the French 

 Weji India Company ;. notwithstanding 

 vvhich the French merchants in Canada 

 carry on a confiderable fmuggling trade. 

 They fend their furs, by means of the In" 

 dians, to their correfpondents at Albany* 

 who purchafe it at the price which they 



have 



