44 



A General History of the^Fur Trade. 



this are two trading establishments. The country on either 

 side is but partially supplied with wood, and consists of 

 plains covered with herds of the buffalo and the elk, espe- 

 cially on the Western side. On the Eastern side are lakes 

 and rivers, and the whole country is well wooded, level, 

 abounding in beaver, bears, moose-deer, fallow-deer, &c. &c. 

 The natives, who are of the Algonquin tribe, are not very 

 numerous, and are considered as the natives of Lake Su- 

 perior. This country being near the Missisippi, is also in- 

 habited by the Nadowasis, who are the natural enemies of 

 the former ; the head of the water being the war-line, they 

 are in a continual state of hostility ; and though the Algon- 

 quins are equally brave, the others generally out-number 

 them ; it is very probable, fnerefore, that if the latter con- 

 tinue to venture out of the woods, which form their only 

 protection, they will soon be extirpated. There is not, 

 perhaps, a finer country in the world lor the residence of 

 uncivilized man, than that which occupies the space between 

 this river and Lake Superior. It abounds in every thing 

 necessary to the wants and comforts of such a people. Fish, 

 venison, and fowl, with wild rice, are in great plenty ; while, 

 at the same time, their subsistence requires that bodily ex-- 

 ercise so necessary to health and vigour. 



This great extent of country w T as formerly very populous, 

 but from the information I received, the aggregate of its 

 inhabitants does not exceed three hundred warriors ; anfr, 

 among the few whom I saw, it appeared to me that the 

 widows were more numerous than the men. The rackoon 

 is a native of this country, but is seldom found to the North- 

 ward of it. 



The other branch is called after the tribe of the Nadawa- 

 sis, who here go by the name of Assiniboins, and g are the prin- 

 cipal inhabitants of it. It runs from the North-North- West, 

 and, in the latitude of 51^. West, and longitude 103~, rising in 

 the same mountains as the river Dauphin, of which I shall 

 speak in due order. They must have separated from their 

 nation at a time beyond our knowledge, and live in peace 

 with the Algonquins and Knisteneaux. 



The country between this and the Red River, is almost 

 a continual plain to the Missisoury. The soil is sand and 

 gravel, with a slight intermixture of earth, and produces a 

 short grass. Trees are very rare; nor are there on the 

 banks of the river sufficient, except in particular spots, to 

 build houses and supply fire-wood for the trading establish- 



