THE MONTAGNAIS INDIANS 
that had won the. hearts of the women, a real 
chef d@’euvre in the calico line, for it was purple 
on one side and olive green with yellow spots 
on the other. The sales proceeded leisurely 
amid much talk and laughter. 
Like the Indians I enjoyed wandering about 
the store-house, for it was an interesting place 
and contained everything that heart could 
desire in these regions. Furs alone were missing, 
for these are the medium of exchange, and for 
these the store-goods were bartered by the 
Indians, and the furs are transported to Lon- 
don. I should dearly have liked to be present 
during the trading process between the factor 
of the Post and the Indians, but I was told that 
the rules of the Company required that no out- 
sider should be present — not even another 
Indian. The beaver skin is still the standard 
of exchange at this Post in terms of which all 
other furs are reckoned. 
At the trading in the store, however, I was 
often present. The Indians are trusted im- 
plicitly, and are allowed to wander about the 
store, even in the absence of the clerk, and 
pick out what they like. Only once, the factor 
told me, was this trust misplaced, and it was 
175 
