24' Hîjtortcal Journal of 



that they could not be difpofed of : Whence it happened, tliat 

 the Dealers not being willing to take them, our Adventurers^ 

 whom they call here Cùureurs de Bois^ (F or eft Rangers) carried 

 them to the Englîjh^ and many of them fettled iniV^^ York. Se- 

 veral Attempts were made to hinder thefe People from deferting 

 the Colony^ but with little Succefs 5 on the contrary, thofe who 

 went over to our Neighbours for the Sake of Intereft, were de- 

 tained there by the Fear of Punifhment ; and fome Vagabonds^ 

 who had taken a Liking to Independency, and a wandering 

 Life, remained among the Savages ; from whom they could not 

 be diftinguilhed, but by their Vices. Recourfe was had feveral 

 Times to the publilhing of Pardon to all that would return ; 

 which at firft had little EiFe6l ; but at length this Method, ma- 

 naged with Prudence, anfwered the expedled End. 



They made Ufe of another Method, which was ftill more ef- 



Of Licences and This was, to allow a Number of 



h Ahufes Perfons, whom they thought they could con- 



eir ujes. .^^ trade in the Countries of 



the Savages, and prohibit all other Perfons to go out of the Co- 

 lony. The Number of thefe Licences v/ere limited, and they 

 were diflributed to poor Widows and Orphans, who could fell 

 them to the Traders for more or lefs, according the Value of 

 the Trade ; that is, according to the Places where the Licences 

 permitted them to go ; for they had taken the Precaution to 

 mark out the Places, to hinder them from going all one Way. 



Befides thefe Licences, (the Number of which was fettled by 

 the Court, and the Dillribution of v/hich belongs to the Governor 

 General) there are fome for the Com.manders of Pofts, and for 

 extraordinary Occafions ; and the Governor gives fome alfo by 

 Name of Jtmple PermiJJions : So that a Part of the young Men are 

 continually roving the Woods ; and though they do not commit 

 any longer, or at leaft fo openly, the Diforders which have fo 

 miîçhdifgracedthis Profeffion, yet they ftill contraél a loofe vagrant 

 Habit, of v/hich they are never entirely cured: They lofe at 

 leai^: an Inclination for Labour ; they wafte their Strength, and 

 become incapable of the leaft Reflraint ; and when they are no 

 Icn- er able to bear the Fatigues of thefe Journies, (which foon 

 b:n^ , becaufe thefe Fatigues are very great) they remain 

 \vi :?;-;t any Refource, and are no longer fit for any Thing. 

 T'iTii^ h- nce it proceeds, that Arts have been a long Time neg- 

 ■ . ^ that much good Land lies ftill uncultivated, and that the 

 i. o. 'itry is not peopled. It has been often propofed to abolilh 

 thefe pernicious Licences, and to make fome French Settlements 

 in f^me chofen Places, and where it would be eafy to aiTemble 

 the Savages, at leaiî^ ^t certain Seafons of the Year. By this 

 Means the Trade would be rendered more flouriihisig. Thefe 



g vaft 



