The new era., 1860-05-10
to his royageurs, with whom his COM
mand was law,

At this time the American Fur Com
pany monopolized nearly the whole
Trade with the Ojibwas ofthe Northwest,
from the foot ofLake superior to the
country Of the Sioux, and north to the
British possessions. This vast terrific
ry was divided off into four parts, and
was under the supervision OF four prin-
clpai traders who had under them yari
Gus clerks to whom they oonrniesau tne
care of their outposts. To each of the
principal traders was one Of these divis-
ions assigned as his field for trade
Though each enjoyed for himself alone
the profits Of his own trade, and was in
terested to collect all the furs he could.
yet there was an understanding be-
tween them, that they would not trade
on each others ground.
1t was the policy Of the Fur Company
to keep out of the Indian country all
traders who were not in their interest,
and to prevent all competition in the
trade between those that were They
wished to keep the whole trade un-
der their control as much IS possible.
Whenever an opposition trader entered
the country, they would either break
him down, or bring him over TO join
them. When there was competition,
it was not easy to make the trade profit
able. Every trader thougbt he must
take in goods enough to buy up all the
furs which would be gathered in his
di ,trict, and the Indians would manage
to get them all from him, whether they
paid for them or not. 1t cost him Just
as much to get hefthe furs when he had
a rival, as it did the whole when he
was without opposition. The Indian
trade was system Of credit. The
trader must furnish his hunters with an
outfit when they go to their hunting
grounds. If they fail Of success liz their
hunts, or if they can be induced to trade
their furs at an opposition house, which
is not uncommon, the credit remains un-
paid, and Of course the trader loses his
goods.
Three Of these principal traders, with
their "brigades," as they term their
travelling parties, left Mackinaw about
the same time we did, and travelled in
comp any nearly all the way up the lake.
When all together, we constituted
fleet Of twelve or fifteen boats.
We were now to enter Lake Superior
and coast our way along its Southern
shore to our destine place Of residence,
then computed to be from three hundred
to four hundred miles distant. We en-
barked on a beautiful sunny afternoon,
such as is often seen on this Lake dur
ing the summer months. The lake was
calm, the winds laid to rest, the sur
face Of the water as smooth almost as a
mirror, and the air was baImy and de-
lightful, as the sun was rapidly declining
towards the western horiz IN, soon to
lose itself behind the great dark forest
that bounded our prospect beyond an
arm of the lake in that direction We
proceeded on about five miles and en-
camped at Pointe aux Pin, a sandy
point on the British side Of the lake.
This was always the first encampment
of the traders after they passed the
Saint Ste. Marie. There they adjusted
their loads, apportioned their men,
and made ready for their passage thro'
the lake.
Our tent was brought ashore and
erected on sand-bank. Our floor was
the sand. Our carpet consisted OF
some rush mats of Indian manufacture,
which we had procured for the voycge,
spread upon the sand. Our bundles of
bedding were brought and laid upon
these, and formed our seats, till time to
retire: then they were opened and form
ed our beds. A fire was kindled fore
the tent. our camp kettles were placed
over it, and our supper prepared. Our
coffee was boiled without being ground
Our bread was made of -four and water
stirred together, with a little lard and
salar atus added sto make it light, and
baked in frying pan before our camp
fire, where the ashes and crock and
sand were constantly falling upon it
In eating it the grating of grit between
ones teeth produces similar effect up
on the nerves to that Of the grating Of a
pair Of millstones grinding nails or peb-
blcs. When our supper was prepared,
which was done BY ourselves, it was