FUR TRADE. 
339 * 
the North-west Company in their posts in the 
upper country. Those who are stationed at 
the remote trading posts lead a very savage 
life, but little better indeed than that of In¬ 
dians : some of them remain far up in the 
country for four or five years together. The 
head clerk or principal agent generally marries 
an Indian girl, the daughter of some eminent 
chief, by which he gains in a peculiar manner 
the affections of the whole tribe, a matter of 
great importance. These marriages, as may be 
supposed, are not considered as very binding 
by the husband ,* but that is nothing in the 
opinion of an Indian chief, who readily brings 
his sister or daughter to you; at the same time 
he can only be appeased by blood if a person 
attemps to take any improper liberties with 
his wife. Amongst no people are the wives 
more chaste, or more devoted to, their hus¬ 
bands. 
Besides the furs and pelts conveyed down 
to Montreal from the north-western parts 
of the continent, by means of the Utawas 
River, there are large quantities also brought 
there across the lakes, and down the River Si. 
Lawrence. These are collected at the various 
towns and posts along the Lakeis Huron, Erie, 
and Ontario, where the trade is open to all 
parties, the several posts being protec ted by 
regular troops* at the expence of the g overn- 
