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b4 A GENERAL HISTORY

opinion, contributed to its ruin. This trade was carried on in a very
diftant country, out of the reach of legal reftraint, and where there was a
free fcope given to any ways or means in attaining advantage. The
confequence was not only the lofs of commercial benefit to the perfons
engaged in it, but of the good opinion of the natives, and the refpett of
their men, who were inclined to follow their example ; fo that with drink-
ing, caroufing, and quarrelling with the Indians along their route, and
among themfelves, they feldom reached their winter quarters; and if they

did, it was generally by dragging their property upon fledges, as the

‘navigation was clofed up by the froft. When at length they were

arrived, the objeét of each was to injure his rival traders in the opinion
of the natives as much as was in their power, by mifreprefentation and
prefents, for which the agents employed were peculiarly calculated,
They confidered the command of their employer as binding on them,
and however wrong or irregular the tranfa€tion, the refponfibility refled
with the principal who direfted them. This is Indian law. Thus did
they wafte their credit and their property with the natives, till the firft
was pa{t redemption, and the laft was nearly exhaufted; fo that towards

_ the {pring in each year, the rival parties found it abfolutely neceflary

to join, and make one common ftock of what remained, for the pur-
pole of trading with the natives, who could entertain no refpe€t for
perfons who had conduéted themfelves with fo much irregularity and
deceit. The winter, therefore was one continued {cene of difagreements
and quarrels, If any one had the precaution or good fenfe to keep clear
of thele proceedings, he derived a proportionable advantage from his
good conduét, and frequently proved a peace-maker between the parties.
To fuch an height had they carried this licentious condu&, that they

were