138 Sir ALEXANDER MACKENZIE
whoop as well as Mackenzie and McGillivray,
we could all sing admirably, we could all drink
like fishes.” The war-whoop seems to have
been a part of the ritual on all festive occa-
sions of the North-Westers. Landmann records
another entertainment, of similar character,
given at Lachine next spring by the same
hosts on the departure of the canoes for Grand
Portage; at its conclusion the whole company
was prostrate on the floor. In 1800 a more
sober traveller, John Maude, tells of dining
with Mackenzie when there were no fewer
than thirty persons at table.

Mackenzie’s work as an agent gave him
plenty to do. He describes the agents’ func-
tions as follows:

Their duty was to import the necessary
goods from England, store them at their own
expense at Montreal, get them made up into
the articles suited to the trade, pack and for-
ward them, and supply the cash that might
be wanting for the outfits; for which they
received, independent of the profit on their
shares, a commission on the amount of the
accounts, which they were obliged to make out
annually, and keep the adventure of each year
distinct,