22 CANADIAN WILDS. 



ing to keep body and soul together, and when 

 the cold of winter drives them to the shelter of 

 the forests, they have nothing necessary to 

 prosecute a hunt even if they had the strength 

 and energy to work. If one of their children 

 or wives is lucky enough to trap an animal, the 

 noble head of the family tramps off to the near- 

 est Free Trader and barters it for tobacco and 

 whiskey. 



Coming back to the Free Traders I must 

 mention the exception to the general run of 

 them. In different parts of our territory or- 

 ganized parties of twos or fours have tried to op- 

 pose the company by trading in a straight way, 

 that is, giving the Indian good, strong clothing 

 and good provisions in exchange for his furs, 

 but with very few exceptions the life of these 

 small companies has been shortlived and I 

 only know of one or two who made money by 

 this trading. 



The rock upon which they invariably come 

 to grief is giving credit to Indians. A plausible 

 story in the spring as to why they cannot pay is 

 generally accepted by the Free Trader and a sec- 

 ond outfit given the next autumn with the idea 

 of enabling them to pay at the close of another 

 hunting season. The Trader being called upon 

 to pay up his supplies in either Montreal, To- 

 ronto or Winnipeg causes a sudden stoppage to 



