Earzy Lire 7

across the prairies of the west and into the
inhospitable regions of the far north, rich only
in animal life. Quickly the limits reached by
the French were passed, and British traders
were pushing into parts hitherto unseen by
white men. The French had explored the
Great Lakes, and finally, under the impulse
of La Vérendrye’s enthusiasm, had crossed
the maze of waterways beyond Lake Superior
until they reached Lake Winnipeg, the
prairies, and the great Saskatchewan River.
Here they tapped sources of supply previously
touched only by the English of the Hudson’s
Bay Company. The traders of that company
had been content to remain in their forts on
the Bay, and had trained the Indians to carry
their furs often many hundreds of miles for
exchange there. The French first, and then
their British successors from Canada, began
to cut off the trade on the Bay by meeting
the Indians at or near their hunting-grounds
and buying their furs on the spot, thus saving
them a long journey. In time the Hudson’s
Bay Company was forced,"slowly,and reluc-
tantly, to adopt a policy of competition inland.

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