Tue Younc Fur-TRapvErR 27)

He selected a point on the south shore, and
there constructed Fort Chipewyan, soon to
become the most famous post in the northern
fur-trade. Roderick was determined that, if
he had to live in monotonous exile two thou-
sand miles from anywhere, he would not be
deprived of some of the elementary adorn-
ments of life. He made the fort as comfort-
able as his primitive resources permitted,
painted its interior, and founded a small
library. For eight years it was Mackenzie’s
headquarters; and under his guidance the
Athabaska district, remote as it was, came to
be by far the most important of all the depart-
ments of the North West Company.

Of course if Mackenzie had been no more
than a successful fur-trader, his name would
be scarcely remembered; but his success as a
trader is an essential part of his life. Pond’s
character and example had demoralized the
trade in the district. Moreover the Indians
had been accustomed for many years to make
each summer the long journey to Hudson
Bay, in order to procure their supplies from
the Hudson’s Bay Company. Such a custom