The Polynesian., 1841-08-21

Canadian NONaEcrS are permitted 10 rcSluc,
with their Indian wives and haIt-brced
families but these are in strict sublec-
,ion TO the company, and all who do not
Ironncc, themselves with It's interests are
'Acs!ned nuudars. Indeed the territory
is one which will probably never be valu-
.a0!a as an agricultural country. or furnish
motives for extensive colonization. 1t is
n Inany parts wild, rocky, and terrific,
Astounding with deep delts and rugged
mountain chains. Some portions may
be made a good pastoral country, but the
greater part is entirely deficient in agrlcul-
tural resources. The soil is light 1t
produces neither the common gains In
Iabundance and abounds in 10 rich mot
ais, gems, and gold. Its great Importance
at present seems to be derived from the
extent of the fur trade within It's borders,
aud the advantages which are possessed
by its coast for navigation. The only set
Element of any importance along the coast
at all, is that of Fort Vancouver, belonging
to the Hudson's Bay Company, which is
situated on the Columbia, about one hum
dred miles from its mouth, 1t is COM
prised in group of buildings enclosed by
a picket, which includes space OF about
four hundred and fifty feet. Here there
are thirty-lour tenements, and also work.
shops for mechanics, and fort. Near
the fort are cabins for laborers, and the
connecting buildings, sawmiil, maga-
zine, hospital, and a large boat-house near
the shore. At this point is also farm
containing three thousand acres of land,
and cultivated by Canadians and half
breed Iroquos. Four vessels ply from
the coast, bringing cargoes of supplies,
and returning with furs to London. "A
steamboat called the Beaver, of one hum
dred and fifty tons, and with two engines
of thirty horse power, which were built
in London, is now employed in navigating
the straits from Juan de Fuca to Stick
ern.
The prosperous condition Of the Hud-
sons Bay Company may be in some
measure attributed to the fact that the
goods for the English trade may be i'm
ported into their colonies without duty,
and yet forty per cent, and even more, n
required from the American merchant,
who is obliged to pay duty on furs i'm
ported into the British market, while En-
glsh furs may be imported into our own
market free of duty, But the fur trade APP,
pears fated to decline upon the eastern as
well as the western portion of the Rociy
Mountains, by the diminution Of the ami.
mails from which it seeks its profits. This
dminution, however, has been obviatGd
in some measure by the IIudson's Bay
Company, who have preserved these par
ticular tracts undisturbed But where
these precautions are not used, the Amer.
ican and British traders advance into the
territory, and strip it of its wealth, so that
in short time there will be but little left
upon the soil for commercial enterprise.
Moreover, by the prohibitory measures of
the Russians and the Hudson's Bay Com
pany, American vessels are excluded from'
the Pacific, and all the furs and petrV
which now reach China by water, are
shipped from New York or from London.
1t is indeed obvious, when we consider
the price Of furs with us, that a valuable
market both for the products Of our Amer