Gi NE RAL BS... O RY

OF THE

Pret? AR As

FROM

CANADA TO THE NORTH-WEST.

Tue fur trade, from the earlieft fettlement of Canada, was confidered
of the firft importance to that colony. The country was then fo
populous, that, in the vicinity of the eftablifhments, the animals
whofe fkins were precious, in a commercial view, foon became very
{earce, if not altogether extin@. They were, it is true, hunted at
former periods, but merely for food and clothing. The Indians, there-
fore, to procure the neceflary fupply, were encouraged to penetrate into
the country, and were generally accompanied by fome of the Cana-
dians, who found means to induce the remoteft tribes of natives to
bring the fkins which were moft in demand, to their fettlements, in the
way of trade.

It is not neceflary for me to examine thé caufe, but experience proves
that it requires much lefs time for a civilized people to deviate into
a the