THE HUDSON S BAY COMPANY. 235 



purposes, or for carrying on of porpoise or other fisheries, 

 on giving the Company eighteen months' notice. 



The whole territory under the control of the Company 

 comprises, with a few spots of good soil, an immense tract 

 of desolate region, totally unfit for cultivation and for the 

 habitation of civilised man. It is sprinkled all over with 

 groups and chains of lakes, united by streams, the heads of 

 which so nearly approach, that slight labour would be 

 requisite to unite them and thus divide the continent into 

 a number of islands. These interior streams and lakes are 

 the channels upon which their goods and furs are trans- 

 ported by the voyageurs. The sparsity of the soil has 

 rendered it an object to preserve the races of the fur- 

 bearing animals, as the most productive revenue the 

 Company are likely to derive from the country. For this 

 purpose they have divided it into a number of districts 

 or beats. The commandants of posts are charged with the 

 duty of taking care that no animal be killed out of season, 

 that the females are well preserved, and that the Indians 

 confine themselves to hunting the proper animals at the 

 proper period. The Indians are restrained by penalties and 

 by the regulations which preclude them from trade when 

 the laws are violated. 



The voyageurs or canoe-men are a very unique, and 

 strongly marked race of beings. Descended from the old 

 courier de bois, they have retained some traits derived 

 from the intimate associates of their fathers with the 



