CANADIAN WILDS. 



CHAPTER I. 



THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY. 



The Hudson's Bay Company was incorpor- 

 ated in the year 1670 and received its charter 

 from Charles the Second, making it today the 

 longest united company that ever existed in the 

 world. 



In 1867 when the different provinces of old 

 Canada were brought under the Dominion Con- 

 federation, the Company ceded its exclusive 

 rights, as per its charter, to the government of 

 Canada, making this vast territory over which 

 the Company had held sway for nearly two hun- 

 dred years, free for hunters, trappers and 

 traders. 



Prince Rupert, of England, was associated 

 with the first body of "Adventurers Trading 

 into Hudson's Bay," for such were they desig- 

 nated in the charter and the charter gave them 

 the right to trade on all rivers and their tribu- 

 taries flowing into Hudson's Bay. 



They established their first forts or factories 



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