266 
OTTER. 
apiece. “ What a profitable trade,” says Mr. 
Pennant, “ might not a colony carry on, was it 
possible to penetrate to these parts of North Ame- 
rica, by means of the rivers and lakes ! The access 
to Pekin would then be easy, by sailing up the 
gulph of Petcheli. At present these valuable furs 
are carried by land above three thousand miles to 
the frontiers of China, where they are delivered to 
the merchants.” 
