THE FUR-TRADE OF THE HUDSON'S BAY TERRITORIES. 313 



want into which their improvidence too often phmges them ; and the example 

 of an inflexible straightforwardness serves to gain their confidence. This moral 

 preponderance, and the admiration of the Indian for the superior knowledge 

 and arts of the Europeans, explain how a mere handful of white men, scattered 

 over an enormous territory, not only lead a life of perfect security, but exercise 

 an almost absolute power over a native population outnumbering them at least 

 several hundred times. The Indians have in course of time acquired many new 

 Avants, and have thus become more and more dependent en the white traders. 

 Tiie savage hunter is no longer the free, self-dependent man, who, Avithout any 

 foreign assistance, was able to make and manufacture, Avith his own hands, all 

 tlie Aveapons and articles needed for his maintenance. Without English fire- 

 arms and fishing-gear, Avithout iron-Avare and woollen blankets, he could no Ion*::- 

 er exist, and the unfortunate tribe on Avhich the Company should close its stores 

 Avould soon perish for Avant. "History," says Professor Hind, "does not fur- 

 nish another example of an association of private individuals exerting a power- 

 ful influence OA'er so large an extent of the earth's surface, and administerinir 

 their affairs with such consummate skill and unAvavering devotion to the origi- 

 nal objects of their incorporation." 



The standard of exchange in all mei'cajitile transactions Avith the natives is a 

 beaver skin, the relative A-alue of which, as originally established by the traders, 

 differs considerably from the present worth of the articles represented by it ; 

 but the Indians are averse to change. They receiA'e their principal outfit of 

 clotliing and ammunition on credit in the autumn, to be repaid by their Avinter 

 hunts ; the amount intrusted to each of the hunters varying with their rejiuta- 

 tions for industry and skill. 



The furs Avhich, in the course of the year, are accumulated in the various 

 forts or trading-stations, ai"e transported in the short time during Avhich the 

 rivers and lakes are navigable, and in the manner described at the beirinninir of 

 the chapter, to York Factory, or Moose Factory, on Hudson's Bay, to Montreal 

 or Vancouver, and shipped from thence mostly to London. From the more 

 distant posts in the interior, the transport often requires seA'eral seasons ; for 

 traA'elling is necessarily very sIoav Avhen rapids and portages continually inter- 

 rupt navigation, and" the long winter puts a stop to all intercourse Avhatever. 



The goods from Europe, consisting (besides those mentioned above) of 

 printed cotton or silk handkei-chiefs, or neck-cloths, of beads, and the universal 

 favorite tobacco, require at least as much time to find their AA'ay into the distant 

 interior; and thus the Company is not seldom obliged to AA'ait for four, fiA'e, 

 or six years before it receives its returns for the articles sent from London. 

 It must, hoAvever, be confessed, that it amply repays itself for the tediousness 

 of delay, for Dr. Armstrong Avas told by the Esquimaux of Cape Bathurst — a 

 tribe in the habit of trading Avith the Indians from the Mackenzie, who are in 

 direct communication with the Hudson's Bay Company's agents — that for three 

 silver-fox skins — Avhich sometimes fetch as high a price as tAVcnty-fi\'e or thirty 

 guineas apiece at the armual sale of the Company — they had got from tlie trad- 

 ers cooking utensils Avhich might be worth eight shillings and si:;pcnce ! 



The value of the skins annually imported into England by the Company 



