21 



Lord Selkirk's aim in founding this settlement on the 

 Red River was not simply to form an agricultural establish- 

 ment but* also to ensure on the part of the new colonists as- 

 sistance against the North- West Trading Company to enable 

 him to ruin its commerce. 



He pretended that the Hudson's Bay Company under 

 virtue of the charter which had been granted to it by Charles 

 11. in 1670 had the exclusive right of fishing and hunting not 

 only on the shores of the Hudson Bay but all over the North 

 West from the Rocky Mountains up to the frozen seas at the 

 far North. 



The rivalry between these two Companies became serious 

 upon the arrival of the first colony in 18 12 and continued to 

 rage until 1821 at which time they were united under the 

 name of the Hudson's Bay Company. 



The French Canadians and half breeds usually embraced 

 the cause of the North- West Company while the Scotch and 

 English as well as some of the Indian tribes were devoted to 

 the Hudson's Bay Company. 



M. Lajimoniere had never been in the service of either 

 Company. He hunted on his own account and sold his furs 

 as often to the one as to the other. However after his stay 

 in the Saskatchewan where he lived in the Hudson's Bay 

 Company's forts he always shewed himself in favor of this 

 last named Company. 



In March, 1815, two of the North-West Company's forts 

 were taken by the Hudson's Bay Company and the provisions, 

 merchandise and furs contained in them were taken to Fort 

 Douglas. The Traders and employees were held prisoners 

 and all their papers confiscated. The couriers bringing letters 

 from Canada for the Company were stopped and their letters 

 intercepted. 



The agents of the North-West Company in order to cir- 

 cumvent their enemies stopped the Hudson's Bay Company's 

 couriers and held them prisoners in their forts. It was there- 

 fore very difficult to send letters from Red R : ver to Montreal. 

 The distance to be travelled through the woods was 600 miles 

 and to avoid passing the different posts, placed like steps of 

 a ladder along the route it was necessary to take great de- 

 tours, cut across swamps, cross lakes and rivers passing by 

 any inhabited parts of the country without being seen. 



J. Bte. Lajimoniere was engaged by the Governor of Fort 



* This is the Nor'Wester view, but there is no evidence supporting it. — Ed. 



