The Newtown bee., 1879-06-03
HadsDn Bay Trading Posts.

sWNcOA DaJ 1AduluS II Ootos
 The trading and interior te5ot post of the company a,4 Strange, quaint-looL- ing places, built according to general type. They stand generally upon the second or lower bank of some naviesAbie river or lake, so IS to Be easily accessi- ble tc the boats which annually visit them with supplies. A trading post is invariably square, inclosed by immense trees or pickets, one end sunk deeply in the ground, and placed close together. A platform, abettt the height ofan ordinary man, is carried along the inner side of the square, so as to enable any one to peep over without danger from arrow or bullet. At the four corners are bastions, octagonal in shape, pierced with em- hfasdres, 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 SUI prematy of the company. The entrance the stockade is closed by two massive gates, an inner 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 ofemployees, while about its four sides, close to the stockade. are ranged the trading store, the ftlr-room, the warehouses, servants quarters, etc. Beside the larger dwelling rises a tall flagstaff, bearing the flag of the com pany, with it's strange device, :" Pro belle cutem "-skin for skin-and near by a bell tower, the tones from which mark the hours of labor and rest In front of the gate lounge few half-breeds or In- dians in tasseled cap and dirty white capote, or tattered blankets. A band of horses graze in distant meadow, while nearer by few leather tepecs, or bark lodges, from the frilled poles of which the smoke curls lazily, indicate the home of the aboriginal hangers-on. At one side of the palisade few rude crosses or wooden railings, stained by rain and snow-drift, and blown over by the tenn pest, mark the last resting-places of the dead
 The trade-rooms at all posts are ar ranged with strict reference to the wants of the peculiar custom which they at tract. From the heavy joists of the low ceiling depend twine, steel, traps, tin ket- tles, frying pans, etc. on various shelves are piled bales of cloth of all colors, ca- potes, blankets, and caps; and in smaller divisions Ire placed files, scalping- knives, gun screws, Hints, balls of twine, fire steels, canoe awls, and glass beads of all colors and sizes. Drawers in the coun- ter contain needles, pins, scissors, fish hooks, thimbles, and vermillion for painting canoes and faces. On the floor IS strewn variety of copper kettles, from half pint to a gallon; and in one corner. of the room stand dozen trading guns, and beside them keg of powder and a bagl of shot.
 In some of the tradc-rooms a small piece is railed off by the counter near the door, behind which the Indians stand to trade. Sometimes they are confined to q separate apartment, called the Indian. room, adjoining that occupied by the traders, and business is carried or through q loop hole communicating be- tween the two. In many of the posts in the plain country the trade-room is clev. erly cOntrived so as to prevent sudden rush of the Indians, the approach from outside the picllets being through long narrow passage, only of sufficient widtl to admit of one Indian at a time, and bent at an acute angle near the window at which the trader stands. This pre- caution is necessary by the frantic de sire which sometimes seizes upon the Indian to shoot the clerk, which hc might easily do were the passage straight.
 At most of the interior posts time moves slowly, and change is almost un. known. To-day is the same as hun dred years ago. The list of goods or. dered from England for this has exactly the same items as that of 1779. Strands cottons, beads, and trading guns are stil the wants of the Indians, and are stil traded for musquash and beaver
 The system of trade at the company, posts is entirely one of barter. Until le cent years money values were unknown but this medium of exchange has gradu ally become familiar to the Indians, anC the almighty dollar is rapidly asserting its supremacy in sayagedom.-H. II Robinson, 70 Hu1per's Magazine.