HISTORY OF THE ADIRONDACK BEAVER. 7>91 



often established almost within earshot of populous Indian villages and 

 permanent encampments. It is known that the Indians had a supersti- 

 tious regard for the beaver, — even associating him with the creation of 

 the world, — which may have had some influence on his practical immunity 

 from their pursuit. 



First Far-Trading Posts 



In 1603 the first fur-trading post in Canada was established at Tadousac, 

 on the Saguenay; the second at Stadacona (Quebec) the following year. 

 Three Rivers was founded soon after; but it was not until the establishment 

 of Ville Marie (Montreal) in 161 1 that the fur trade began to assume con- 

 spicuous proportions in the New World. At the south, the first permanent 

 settlement by the Dutch was at Fort Nassau, near Albany (16 14), and 

 New Amsterdam (1626). 



The southern part of the Adirondacks was then nominally the hunting 

 grounds of the Five Nations, of whom the Mohawks were the most active. 

 Thev claimed the land northward to a line running due west from Mohawk 

 Rock * (Rock Dunder) in Burlington Bay. This would include all the 

 wilderness south of the Saranac Lakes. To the north of this line were the 

 Algonquin tribes, restless and ever eager to push their dominion southward. 



When the French at the north and the Dutch and English at the south 

 commenced a bitter struggle for control of the fur trade, the Adirondack 

 region became the scene of a new kind of warfare ; for, from that day for- 

 ward, keeping pace with the bitter war of extermination between the rival 

 races, — the French and Algonquins at the north, the Dutch, English and 

 Iroquois at the south, — raged an incessant war — not less merciless or 

 brutal — upon all forms of fur-bearing animals, but especially against the 

 beaver. The Indians, at times, even forgot their ancient animosities to 

 unite in a common assault upon the inoffensive beaver, and, for the first 

 time in their history, the glass beads, looking-glasses, firearms and " fire- 

 water " of the white invaders, lured them to forget their former providence 

 and moderation in the chase. They became inveterate and remorseless 

 beaver killers. The region was overrun with trappers, both red and white, 



* Vid. Lake Cltamplain and lis Shores, by W. II. II. Murray. Boston: De Wolfe, Fiske & Co., 

 1890. Pp. 75-81. 



