^lebec. 1 07 



JVefi-lndies. All the foreign goods, which 

 are found in MontreaU and other parts of 

 Canaddy mud be taken from hence. The 

 French merchants from Montreal on their 

 fide, after making a fix months ftay among 

 feveral Indian nations, in order to purchafe 

 fkins of beafts and furrs, return about the 

 end of Aiigufi^ and go down to ^lebec in 

 Septe?nber or OBober^ in order to fell their 

 goods there. The privilege of felling the 

 imported goods, it is faid, has vafily en- 

 riched the merchants of ^lebec , but this 

 is contradid;ed by others, who allow that 

 there are a few in affluent circumftances, 

 but that the generality pofiefs no more 

 than is abfolutely necefiary for their bare 

 fubfiftence, and that feveral are very much 

 in dfbt, which they fay is owing to their 

 luxury and vanity. The merchants drefs 

 very finely, and are extravagant in their 

 repafcs ; and their ladies are every day in 

 full drefs, and as much adorned as if they 

 were to go to court. 



The town is furrounded on almofl: all fides 

 by a high wall, and efpecially towards the 

 land. It was not quite completed when I 

 was there, and they were very bufy in finilh- 

 ing it. It is built of the above mentioned 

 black iime-flate, and of a dark-grey fand- 

 (lone. For the corners of the gates they 



have 



