\ 



6 A General History of the Fur Trade, 



at Detroit, and the surprise and taking of Michilimiikinac, 

 about this period. 



Hence it arose, that it was so late as the year 1766, be- 

 fore which, the trade I mean to consider, commenced from 

 Michilimakinac. The first who attempted it were satisfied 

 to go the length of the River Camenistiquia, about thirty- 

 miles to the Eastward of the Grande Portage, where the 

 French had a principal establishment, and was the line of 

 their communication with the interior country. It was 

 once destroyed by fire. Here they went and returned suc- 

 cessful in the following spring to Michilimakinac. Their 

 success induced them to renew their journey, and incited 

 others to follow their example. Some of them remained at 

 Camenistiquia, while others proceeded to ai\d beyond the 

 Grande Portage, which, since that time,|jhas become the 

 principal entrepot of that trade, and is situated in a bay, in 

 latitude 48 North, and longitude 90 West. After passing 

 the usual season there, they went back to Michilimakinac as 

 before, and encouraged by the trade, returned in increased 

 numbers. One of these, Thomas Curry, with a spirit of 

 enterprize superior to that of his contemporaries, determin- 

 ed to penetrate to the furthest limits of the French disco- 

 veries in that country : or at least till the frost should stop 

 him. For this purpose he procured guides and interpret- 

 ers, who were acquainted with the country, and with four 

 canoes arrived at Fort Bourbon, which was one of their 

 posts, at the West end of the Cedar Lake, on the waters of 

 the Saskatchiwine. His risk and toil were well recompen- 

 sed, for he came back the following spring with his canoes 

 filled with fine furs, with which he proceeded to Canada, 

 and was satisfied never again to return to the Indian 

 country. 



From this period people began to spread over every part 

 of the country, particularly where the French had estab- 

 lished settlements. 



Mr. James Finlay was the first who followed Mr. Curry's 

 example, and with the same number of canoes, arrived, in 

 the course of the next season, at Nipawee, the last of the 

 French settlements on the bank of the Saskatchiwine River, 

 in latitude nearly 43-£ North, and longitude 103 West : he 

 found the good fortune, as he followed, in every respect, 

 the example of his predecessor. 



As may be supposed, there were now people enough rea- 

 dy to replace them, and the trade was pursued with such 



