1906-7. TRANSACTIONS. 95 



philosopher, were invaluable in the wilderness. They were made 

 for labour; they would carry all the bundles; and, he added 

 triumphantly, "though they do everything, they are maintained 

 at a very trifling expense, for as they always stand cook, the 

 very licking of their fingers in scarce times is sufficient for their 

 subsistence.' 



After his return from the Coppermine, Hearne journeyed 

 inland again, but in a different direction. His destination was 

 now the Saskatchewan, where, on the borders of Cumberland 

 lake, he built Cumberland House. He could not have chosen 

 a better spot, in the interests of his company. The fort com- 

 manded the main thoroughfare from Lake Winnipeg to the 

 mountains, as well as from the Saskatchewan north to the Churchill. 

 It was the first really effective reply to the bold challenge of the 

 North West Company. 



The Canadians joyfully responded. They had already 

 anticipated Hearne's shrewd move to some extent by establish- 

 ing themselves at Portage de Traitte (Frog Portage) on the 

 Churchill. They now pushed on up the Churchill to He a la 

 Crosse lake, where they built a post and intercepted the western 

 Indians on their way down to the Hudson's Bay Company's 

 factories on the bay. So the trade war went merrily on from 

 year to year, sometimes the Hudson's Bay men getting the 

 advantage; oftener the Nor'-Westers. The latter nearly always 

 led the way, in characteristically impetuous fashion; the Hud- 

 son's Bay Company following at a more leisurely, dignified pace. 

 It was so everywhere in the west, or nearly everywhere. It is 

 true a Hudson's Bay man, Anthony Hendry, reached the Sas- 

 katchewan from the bay some years before the first traders from 

 Montreal; but beyond this the North West Company took the 

 lead. They were first on the Athabaska; first on the Peace; 

 first on the Mackenzie; first over the mountains; first to the 

 Pacific. But with dogged perseverance the men from the bay 

 followed after, running their boats ashore wherever they found 

 a North West post, and building one beside it. Sometimes 

 there were three rival establishments within hailing distance, 

 for the X Y Company, a younger brother of the North West 

 Company, followed the same tactics. 



Despite trade rivalry the traders of the several companies 

 got on fairly well together. They dined at each others houses. 

 The rival brigades of canoes or boats often travelled down to- 



