The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-01
SOME NEW BOOKS.


The McsSrs. Putnam have published
record Of travel and experience in the far North
which, both on tho score Of novelty Of theme
and liyelinoss Of treatment may be called one
Of the most attractive volumes Of the season.
We refer 10 The GREAT Fur LdHd on Sketches 81
LJe m he Hadsoi's Bay territory. by II. NJ
RonINsoN. Tho strange and interesting phases
OF frontier existence and adventure in the more
inaccessible regions Of British North America
are here portrayed by an eyewitness. With his
personal observations. moreover. arc inter-
woven much pertinent and supplemental mat
ter CLEANED from such authentic hut unfa-
miliar accounts Of tho same country rs Har-
graves " Rod River and Buffers Great Lone
Land Altogether the author has given US
book which, considering the nature OF tho in
formation Afforded and tho succinctncss and
spirit oftne narrative, is captivating and unique
What is tho organization and purpose Of the
Hudson's Bay Company, and what is the terri
tory covered by its operations? II may be well
10 first answer the latter query 10y reminding
the reader over how vast a region this corpora
tion-;he greatest trading association in the
world since the extinction ofthc East India Com
pany-exercises its complex and lucrative func-
tons. As the crow flies. the distance between
Fort Vancouver, on the Oregon. and Fort Conf
dence. on Bear Lake exceeds ! $50 geographical
miles. while tho space between tho COM
pany's posts and Fort Simpson on the Pacific
spans more than 800. In other words. the area
OF country under its immediate influence il
some four and half million square miles. or
much moro than are contained in the whole Of
Europe, Throughout this immense expnnse Of
territory. comprising every species OF soil. from
tho densely timbercd western slopes Of tho
Rocky Mountains to the prairics Of Manitoba
az La tha vl,no
growing valley OF the Red River TO the eternal
SHOWS of tho Arctic Circle. q regular communal
cation is kept up between resident Governor
and multitude OF subordinatcs. and supplies
are iorSarded to the numerous scattered posts
Win atruy wonderful regularity. The chartered
territories OF tho company are divided into four
great sections, the most important interests OF
the corporation being concentrated In the So
called northern department. situated between
Hudsons Bay and the Rocky Mountains.
Within this province tho larger part OF
tho peltry trade is carried on. and 1t
is this which specially deserves tho numo Of
The Great Fur Land" One Of its dcpots. Fort
Garry, is the centre Of the company business.
tho residence of the Goyernor-in- Chief. and the
headquarters of its civil service. We may add
that the four departments are divided into dis
tric,s, of which there are fty-threc these again
two minor establishments. Each district ia
under the direction Of "A superintendent. and is
provided with depot to which all the nocdful
supplies nre forwarded periodically. and to
which all the furs and produce from tho forts
are sent to be shipped to England. Some OF
these dapols have a complement Of thirty or
forty men, mechanics, laborers. servants, but in
most instances tho number is much smaller
Since tho space Of forest or plain Intervening
between these establishments varies from nfty
to three hundred miles in length 1t is plain
that the company's servants must lead very
solitary lives, But Mr.. Robinson tells US tha,
every man knows his place and his work
their dutios baing defined with tho utmost
clearncss aud enforced with military rigor
Hence tho harmonious working Of tho who'll
complicated machinery. and the striking nnan-
cia results Of its operations.
II nppears that the Hudson's Bay Company.
which furnishes the world with three-fourths Of
all its peltries, consists on the one hand of tho
corporation proper, which provides tho cnpital
stock, and on the other hand OF the so called
Partnership Of tho Fur Trade. which is en-