, 1879-06-19
Hudson Bay Trading Posts.

The trading and interior depot posts
of the company are strange, quaint
looking places, built according to a gen
eral type. They stand generally upon
the second or lower bank of some nav
igable river or lake, so as to be easily
accessible to the boats which annually
visit them with supplies. A trading
post is invariably a square, inclosed by
immense trees or pickets, one end sunk
deeply in the ground, and placed close
together. A platform about the height
Of an ordinary man is carried along the
inner side of the square, so as to enable
any one to peer over without danger from
arrow or bullets. At the four corners
are bastions, octagonal in shape, pierced
with embrasures, to lead the Indians
to believe in the existence of cannon,
and intended to strike terror to any
red-skinned rebel bold enough to dispute
the supremacy of the company. The
entrance to the stockade is closed by two
massive gates, an inner one and an outer
one. In the center of the square stands
the residence of the factor or trader in
charge, and of the upper class of en-
ployes, while about its four sides, close
to the stockade, are ranged the trading
store, the fur-room, the warehouses,
servants quarters, ETC. Beside the
larger dwelling rises tall flagstaff,
bearing the flag of the company, with
its strange device, "Pro pelle cutem, y
skin for skin-and near by bell tower,
the tones from which mark the hours of
labor and rest. In front of the gate
lounge few half-breeds or Indians in
tasseled cap and dirty white capote, or
tattered blankets. A band of horses
Craze in distant meadow, while nearer
by few feather tepees, or bark lodges,
from the frilled poles of which the
smoke curls lazily, indicate the home of
the original hanger on. At ono side of
the palisade few rude crosses or wooden
railings, stained by rain and snow-drift,
and blown over by the tempest, mark
the last resting places Of the dead.
The trade.rooms at all the posts are
arranged with strict reference to the
wants of the peculiar custom which they
attract. From the heavy joist of the
ceiling depend twine, steel-traps, tin
kettle, frying-pans, etc.; on various
shelves are piled bales of cloth of all
colors, capotes, blankets and caps; and in
smaller divisions are placed files, scalp
ing-knives, gun screws, Aints, balls of
twine, fire steels, canoe avis, and glass
beads of all colors and sizes. Drawers
in the counter contain needles, pins,
scissors, fiSh-hooks, thimbles and ver-
million for painting canoes and faces. On
the floor is strewn variety of copper
kettles, from half pint to gallon; and
in one conner of the room stands dozen
trading-guns, and beside them keg of
powder and bag of shot.
In some of the trade-rooms small
space is rallied off by the counter near
the door, behind which the Indian stands
to trade. Sometimes they are confined
to separate apartment, called the In
dian trade-room, adjoining that occupied
by the traders, and business is carried on
through loophole communicating be-
tween the two In many of the posts in
the plain country the trade-room is
cleverly contrived SO as to prevent a
sudden rush of the Indians, the approach
from outside the pickets being through a
long narrow passage, only of sufficient
width to admit of one Indian at time,
and bent at an acute angle near the
window at which the trader stands
This precaution is rendered necessary by
the frantic desire which sometimes seizes
upon the Indian to shoot the clerk, which
he might easily do were the passage
straight.
At most of the interior posts time
movec slowly, and change is almost un
known. To-day is the same as hundred
years ago. The list of goods ordered
from England for this year has exactly
the same items as that of 1879. Strands,
cottons, beads and trading guns are still
the wants of the Indians, and are still
traded for ;nusquash and beaver.
The system Of trade at the company's
post is entirely one of barter Until
recent years money values were un-