(easeliay |

; etl!

—~ en
Bids!
ho +]
y 4 Ret
ty i
7 Ae
e Wei og |}
2 i
Figs ‘ibe

te

A Ha Ga |

if bet aot

= Bn it i)

iy H

4 4
f 5
Sad
i}
ih fia.
ie
nh
ay
Bate
oa hee

\ By hi?
yah: he

es

; ite ties
ba

aha
Ben

4

iit i)

j ;
ayn
Hea

eh:
Fin
40h
ah
‘|
ne
fee

ete

eee

ae aN Me ea

Ixxvi A GENERAL HISTORY

Its inhabitants are the Knifteneaux Indians, who are called by the fer-
vants of the Hudfon’s-Bay Company, at York, their home-guards.

The traders from Canada fucceeded for feveral years in getting the
largeft proportion of their furs, till the year 1793, when the fervants of
that company thought proper to fend people amongft them, (and why
they did not do it before is beft known to themfelves), for the purpofe .
of trade, and fecuring their credits, which the Indians were apt to forget.
From the fhort diftance they had to come, and the quantity of goods
they {upplied, the trade has, in a great meafure, reverted to them, as the
merchants from Canada could not meet them upon equal terms. What
added to the lofs of the latter, was the murder of one of their traders,
by the Indians, about this period. .Of thefe people not above eighty
men have been known. to the traders from Canada, but they confift of a

much greater number.

. The Portage de Traite, as has been already hinted, received its name
from Mr. Jofeph Frobifher, who penetrated into this part of the country
from Canada, as early as the years 1774 and 1775, where he met with
the Indians in the fpring, on their way to Churchill, according to
annual cuftom, with their canoes full of valuable furs. They traded.
with him for as many of them as his canoes could carry, and in
confequence of this tranfa&tion, the Portage received and has fince re-
tained its prefent appellation. He alfo denominated thefe waters the
Englifh River. The Miffinipi, is the name which it received from
the Kniftencaux, when they firft came to this country, and either de-
ftroyed or drove back the natives, whom they held in great contempt,
on many accounts, but particularly for their ignorance in hunting

the