FORTS AND POSTS. 47 



built of stone, the forts and posts were con- 

 structed of heavy hewn logs which, being placed 

 flat to flat, were bolted with strong treenails 

 every second or third tier until the desired 

 height of wall was attained. The windows were 

 mere narrow slits in the walls and as few as 

 possible on the ground floor. 



All the buildings were made in the same 

 strong way and consisted, in an ordinary fort, 

 of the master's house (or chief officer's dwell- 

 ing) ; this was the most pretentious building 

 in the lot, for not only did the factor and his 

 family occupy it but it also lodged the clerks 

 and other petty officials, besides furnishing a 

 spacious mess or dining room and a guard room 

 in which the officers lounged and smoked and 

 the small arms were stacked ready for use. 



Within the enclosure were the following 

 other buildings, similar in construction to the 

 great house. A store house in which was kept 

 the bulk of the outfit and the furs gathered. A 

 trade shop in Avhich the Indians bartered their 

 peltries. A men's house or servants' quarters. 

 A work shop in which all necessary repairs were 

 made on guns, harness, etc., and a stable to 

 house the stock at night. They pastured, undei 

 guard, outside the walls during the day. 



These buildings were generally in the form 

 of a hollow square and the whole surrounded 



