xlvi A GENERAL HISTORY

‘ments. It is, indeed, very creditable to them as fervants, that though
they are fometimes affembled to the number of twelve hundred men, in-
dulging themfelves in the free ufe of liquor, and quarrelling with each
other, they always fhew the greateft refpe&t to their employers, who
are comparatively but few in number, and beyond the aid of any legal
power to enforce due obedience. In fhort, a degree of fubordination
- can only be maintained by the good opinion thefe men entertain of their
employers, which has been uniformly the cafe, fince the trade -has been

formed and conduéted on a regular fyftem.

The people being difpatched to their refpettive winter quarters,
the agents from Montreal, affifted by their clerks, prepare to return
there, by getting the furs acrofs the portage, and re-making them
into packages. of one hundred pounds weight each, to fend them to
Montreal; where they commonly arrive about the month of Sep-

tember.

The mode of living at the Grande Portage, is as follows: The pro-
prietors, clerks, guides, and mterpreters, mefs together, to the number
of fometimes an hundred, at feveral tables, in one large hall, the pro-
vifion. confifting of bread, falt pork, beef, hams, fifh, and venifon, but-
ter, peas, Indian corn, potatoes, tea, {pirits, wine, &c. and plenty of
milk, for which purpofe feveral milch cows are conftantly kept. The
mechanics have rations of fuch provifion, but the canoe-men, both from
the North and Montreal, have no other allowance here, or in the voyage,
than Indian corn and melted fat, ‘The corn for this purpofe is pre- —

pared