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figure in the Company was Simon McTavish,
the principal agent in Montreal, whose firm
owned no fewer than six shares. He and Mac-
kenzie were both proud Highlanders, domi-
neering in character and sure of their own
judgment, and they seem from the first to
have been very ready to disagree. Mackenzie
on his way down writes to Roderick of “a very
severe letter from Mr. McTavish” complain-
ing of the condition of the furs sent from Atha-
baska in 1789. At Grand Portage he found
“my expedition was hardly spoken of, but
that is what I expected.” McTavish was not
interested in exploration for its own sake, and,
as a founder of the original North West Com-
pany, he seems to have been jealous of those
who had served with the New Company.
Mackenzie was back at Chipewyan for
the season of 1790-91, and he sent Roderick
to Great Slave Lake to winter on the north
shore so as to develop the trade with the
Indians encountered on the journey of 1789.
In 1791 his turn came to leave the North-
West and enjoy for a season, after six years’
abstinence, the pleasures of a civilized life.

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