The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1849-10-27
The Hudson Bay Company,

hHiHa pahliahnd al 81 LOuin, contains an elhbs
crate aud inlesesllng article on the American
fur lrnde, including q. sketch Of tho Hudson
Hay Company, one OF thu most powerful
monoples IN existence We compile from
this article The following facts la relation 10
this company
The concerns ofIhe Hudson boy Company /
are mhungrd by a Governor, Deputy Cover |
nor aud Committee OF Directors establish |
ed Ia London. Ia affairs arc developed Ia
tho most profound secrecy. The Reports re-
quired to Do uiHdu 10 tho government, are
written with studied broyiiy and caution, aud
conlnin only wllhl IN absolutely fequlred.-
This policy, which originates In apPfehen-
sion Of roynlry, aud ia dread Of tie eonso-
quencea To themselves Of a full exposure Of
their interior regulation aud conduct 10 their
employers aud tho Indian tribes, has resulted
In ilie entire suppression of multitude of
facts, important TO science nj large, aud o..
pecinly To geographical knowledge.
The company has u resident Governor la
America to supernteud the various posts
Each interior fort or trading post has a com
mandnnI aud n clerk. aud ne many traders as
H. necessary 10 carry the goods into the lndi.
an yillugos,and bring In lilo iurs,and ~ many
p0ydgers or hands, az are required 10 irnns-
port the goods 10 the various points where
their trade Is Carried on. Strict discipline
criminal affairs nrc managed by tho tribunals
of the company
The calnpaiiy haye not far from one hun
bred pusir, dotted over the country lfom the
Atlantic to the Pacific. The most northern
/ IN situated on the Mackenzie river, within tbs
/ Ariic circle, and Is called fort Good Hope
These forts are morhly stockades, with little
wooden basuons az INC ruru-r-J- capable of
holding travelling party Of ihir'y or forty
/ persons. Their unriyalled Intercourse with
the indians has gwen the company 80 COM
plGre uronlrol over them, that for purposes
of traffic aud safety these forts never need
ed aud rarely have more ihnn four or five
! tenants.
Ia 1914, the company exported from the
whole ofthcir prosecutions as, 39S skins. val
ned at about 100000. Tic value Of tho
imporintIonu OF goods during the Same time
was about S2O00OO The whole number Of
persons ia the employment of the company
IN JSi5, WINS 1912. 1--WE rate the salaries
and wages of these persons at $4,000, tho
profits of the company will be Si50,OOO, less
the cast pftfnnsporling the goods TO aud from
America aud Europe. These statistics are
\ derived from the reports Of the company, and
the value of tho exports is believed 10 bc
greater thnnis here represented,
Since the Hudson Bay Company has en-
ioyed the exclusive privilege 'ofuading with
tho Indian tribes in tho British domiGiOns,
they have certainly proved themselves wise
and prudent administrators, having establish
ed schools for tho education of natives and
hulcbrced indians, NJ their posts, and given
every fhcility and encouragement TO mission
aries. IN the main, the influence of the
company which is great; has been exercised
hencfcially TO the Indians They have re-
pressed their Iindiciiye wars, given them adj
equntc motives to eXer, themselves for sup
port, substituted the implements and many
Of the comforts Of civilization for the rude in
veutons of burbnrism, and in many other
ways materially ameliornted their condition.
The territories of The country are divided
j into districts, or btdis as tley are called
The commandments Of posts are charged with
the duly Of lnking care TINT no animals are
killed out OF season, and that The fomaies Hru
well preserved. The Indians themselves are
restricted by penalties, aud by the regulation
which precludes them from trade when these
laws are violated. The poydgetuS employed
hY Tie c0mphuy uru mn titttiee alIt.-slrongly
nnrked race Of beings Descended rom The
told Couyeur deS Bois, they have retained the
characteristics derived from the intimate MS
socinlions of their fathers with the lndin
, tribes. aud the Wild aud fierce life which they
Head bu, under the controlling influence OF
the company, they have gradually lost all the
fcrocious nnd sauguinnry traits which once
disprnced them. They dress Ia tnncilu
style and their language is French phtoit
mixed with Induu, Scotch and English phra
SEES.
The whole lives ofthesc voyagors are con
sumed in wild aud extensive rovlngH some
times Car into the arctic circle, where 1000
and rniment are alike difficult to ncquire,Ihef
over the great mountain chsin Of the north
, ,nsf and down ns far as the Pac iiiG coast
md again along the course OF winding
, streams, inets, bays aud lakes, exposed Il
every iurlemency of the most inhospiabl'
' climate i'm the world. few Gnys OF nssoci
utint, with, civilized communities upiiorml.
, disrusts and wearics them. They cannot res
, when fettered by the institutions aud hnolt
, of ciyilizntiun. The ouIy truly happy mo
ments they experience is when upon Ioni
4 md toilsoine expedilon9, up rivers, hroun'
p6r,ares and across lnkesjcncampinB al nIgh
in tie open air. chatting around their eve
= ming fires Then the evening meal oI hehU
| &c they have ~ is roasted upon Tue co"'T, 'h
pipe is pissed around, the story ol haHaruou
adventure is told,and the Joyous song is born
r uppn the bosom of tho stiii and qniei hike
Then il is that all tho hereditary gniety OF
u tie French race is exhibited. They are mos
! skilhl cauoemon, vigorous aud ndroit VIII
o the paddle, aud they will move on IRON, en-
: davis end TO another only relieving Their IN
e hors with their songs and tlteir-iests iThr
IA muring or qunrreling is rarely heard amohl
!. them. The language empinyed IN inns inter
d course Is uniformly kind and atlecIionatc
ia and although thoy hnve their full share at tn
n intense orotism aud consequent selishnes
i, of the French character, y is soitened mn
: disguised ny the Pel'IeneAa and apparent cor