The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-06
HUDSON BAY FUR HUNTERS.
LIFE or TIE TRdPPERS ~ THE FAR
NORTH ~ CANADA.

Cases of Cannibalism Among White Men and
Indians-The Lonely Outposts-Prices of
Furs Much Higher Than Fifty Yenrs
Ago-Hunting Pleasures OF the Life.
QUEBEC. Aug. 4-The virtual monopoly OF
the Canadian fur trade maintained hy the
Hudson Bay Company and the adventurous
life and experiences Of many OF It's employees
In the far North Of the American continent are
as full of romantic interest to-day ss wh--
NJ. Balantyne and thc present Lord StrathconA
and Mount Royal entered the service OF the
company as clerks in what is still the groat
lonely land OF Eskimos and Indian trappcrs
and OF the Hudson Bay Companys hardy yoy-
aReurs. Much Of this vast territory is still u
weird land. wrapped In mist and glamour and
just once year the few white residents Of
Moose Fort on James's Bay are glad
dened by the sight OF . ship from
the great outside world OF civilization. Though
such OF the Hudson Bay Companys furs as arc
taken In the country bordering upon the Gulf
OF St Lawrence or in other localities adjacent
to the settled portions OF Canada are shipped
to England via Montreal or New York. the
bulk OF the skins taken in the far North 60 By
the vessel that makea an annual voyage from
London to Hudson: Bay. The Dominion OF
Canada forwards no mail matter to her most
northern subjects. and even the Bishop Of
Moosonee is dependent upon tho courtesy OF
supply OF letters and newspapers.
Furs are not now. as a rule 80 plentiful as In
former times. yet In the far North there are
still immense quantities OF fur bearing AMI
mails. To their increasing rarity upon por-
lions OF the Labrador coast are accountable
such tragedies as that OF last winter. the news
Of which reached here only last week. In conse-
quence Of the coast having been blocked with
Ice all summer. No fewer than twenty Nasca-
YNnA liar ata rad IAA III
deavorinR to reach Davis Inlet in search OF
food. Some OF them had resorted to cannibal-
ism. The reports OF the missionaries to these
Indians show that cases OF cannibalsm
have frequently occurred among them.
Other than Indians. however. have been
driven to this method OF warding of starya-
ton. Rare instances have occurred. where.
through accident. supplies have not reached
the far-out posts for which they were Intended
until the company's officials there have died OF
starvation. Out OF a York boats crew that was
taking up the annual supplies for fort far up
among the Rocky Mountains on branch Of the
Mackenzie River. two or three men were
drowned. and the Ice beginning to take the
boat was obliged to put back to the district
headquarters. The three men at the outpost
we're left for some weeks without the supplies,
and when. after winter had get in. and it
became possible to reach them with dog
trains, provisions were at length sent them,
two were found to be dead at the post, while
the third man was living By himself In q small
hut some distance from the fort buildings.
The explanation he gave was thy he had re-
moved to where there was a chance OF keeping
himself alive by sharing rabbits. which were
more plentiful there than at the post; but
suggestion OF caunibalism surrounded the
affair for only the bones OF his companions
were found. and they were in the open chin
ney place.
white women were rarely to he met with in the
country. most ot the eompanys men, Including
officers. married Indian women. From thess
breeds sprung up,skilled to moderate degree
IN civilized arts ada manners OF life, aud from
later largely accustomed to choose Their wives
At the present day numbers Of their descend.
educated in Great Britain or in Canada. occu.
| ny prominent p9sltions in social, professional
Premier Of Manitoba, was OF this class IL
was an eloquent speaker aud politician.
at the present time are. OF course. much high.
! er than they were fifty years ago. when the
SO Upright ana the purehaser ot wa. req iani
TO pile beaver skins beside It until they rose
5 the SKINS un5s Mfsn a. as
or ,S5 s5 1of 10 xbss t O s q me @
shortage from his ns1t Gant; SSvaiays
|
| ordinary colored cotton handkerchief paid for
marten skin. the value Of which was 30; In
| those times buffalo pemmican constituted the
chief food Of the yoyageur; now dried moose
and caribou meat have taken its place.
The main recreation OF the majority OF the
company officers and clerks is hunting. The
staff at post often go Off and camp for week.
and hundred and more geese and double that
number OF ducks load the boats on the return.
The ptarm igan. brown In summer and white
in winter IS good game bird and In some To-
are very numerous At York Factory anu other
points on Hudson Bay wild geese are SO pleuti-
ful before the ice takes that they are sailed
The partridge Is nowhere. more frequently
at home to the. hunter than in these northern
ATTITUDES. and he 70 often such stranger to
to the tree upon which he is sitting and slip 4
moose fixed y the end OF a pole over his head.
After the first snow in the fall rabbit shooting
Go9d sf s, and IN seasons ,f when they are
huntsman in an afternoon Is not an 0ncom-
| mon score. Then there is the large game such
as moose and deer. while now and then
Unity to the fort the stan turns out, and he 10
shot for his fatal inQuisitiveness.
The quantity and value OF the furs which an
nd 1t may SECURE nr as the result q ~ sprn9
year from 5000 to $500 may be taken as a fair
average Of tho value He may have eight or ten
bears, dozen beavers. four or Ave offers .
number OF lynres. martens and minks and sew
eral hundred mus krats. comparative state
mept Of tie number OF skins secured BY tho
Hudson Bay Company for several years pest
fallen of nearly one-haf in irecent years,
almost all other kinds OF fur have about held
their own. During the last ten years the COM
81 300 Zoo to $4,000. 90 V Year f for ths p1r
chase OF skins alone. apart from the cost OF
supplies and the salaries and wages OF oflcers
and men.