210 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AXD SPORT. 



ways be obnoxious to the majority, and never even 

 in feudal tunes has there been a more rigid one than 

 that established formerly throughout the great Xorth- 

 West by that corporate body. Xo one else could 

 import anything into the country, or send any furs 

 out of it; and it may be said that no one could 

 either buy or sell except from the Hudson Bay 

 officials. Even at this moment the whole of the 

 inland communications are in its hands, and no 

 banking arrangements can be made except through 

 its agents. Notwithstanding the heavy expenses 

 entailed by the conveyance of goods over the great 

 distances that separate the country from civilisation, 

 yet it will always be to many a subject for wonder 

 how it was that the Company generally was not ten- 

 fold richer. Even since the monopoly of trade was 

 abolished, the Company still practically received a 

 percentage in some way or other upon every business 

 transaction that took place. 



The only export from the country was fur : an 

 Indian comes to sell skins ; after some bargaining he 

 agrees to take so much money for them. He is paid 

 in powder, shot, or other goods, which are sold to 

 him at a great profit, whilst the purchased articles 

 are exported to Europe, and again sold at a great 

 profit. In this way a double advantage was ob- 

 tained ; and consequently it is very strange that the 

 affairs of the Company have not been for some years 

 back in as flourishing a condition as they might have 



