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EET IEE LETT TT OR POT ee mre

Vill A GENERAL HISTORY

Hence it arofe, that it was fo late as the year 1756, before which, the
trade I mean to confider, commenced from Michilimakinac. The firft
who attempted it were fatisfied to go the length of the River Cameniftiquia,
about thirty miles to the Eaftward of the Grande Portage, where the
French had a principal eftablifhment, and was the line of their communi-
cation with the interior country. It was once deftroyed by fire. Here
they went and returned fuccefsful in the following fpring to Michilima-
kinac. Their fuecefs induced them to renew their journey, and incited
others to follow their example. Some of them remained at Camenifti-
quia, while others proceeded to and beyond the Grande Portage, which,
fince that time has become the principal entrepot of that trade, and is
fituated in a bay, in latitude 48. North, and longitude go. Weft. After
pafling the ufual feafon there, they went back to Michilimakinac as
before, and encouraged by the trade, returned in increafed numbers. One
of thefe, Thomas Curry, with a fpirit of enterprize fuperior to that of
his contemporaries, determined to penetrate to the furtheft limits of the
French difcoveries in that country; or at leaft till the froft fhould ftop
him. For this purpofe he procured guides and interpreters, who were
acquainted with the country, and with four canoes arrived at Fort
Bourbon, which was one of their pofts, at the Weft end of the Cedar
Lake, on the waters of the Safkatchiwine. His rifk and toil were well re-
compenfed, for he came back the following fpring with his canoes filled
with fine furs, with which he proceeded to Canada, and was fatisfied never

again to return to the Indian country.

From this period people began to {pread over every part of the coun-
try, particularly where the French had eftablifhed fettlements.
Mr. James