place of the hundreds of natives on their way to Hudson 
Bay. This meeting-place was the scene of feasting and 
dancing. As many as five hundred canoes in a year made 
the long and tiresome journey to York Factory. A canoe
load, containing at the start one hundred beaver skins, 
gradually dwindled as the travellers, weary of their 
burdens on the  portages,cast away the heavier furs.



Image:
CARRYING SUPPLIES OVER A PORTAGE


As the Indians drew near the journey's end, they gather-
ed the canoes together and advanced in order. A salute  
from their guns was answered by the small cannon of the 
fort.  At the landing-place the chief and his companions 
were met by the company's traders and led to the trading-
room.  The squaws and  younger  braves, meanwhile,   
unloaded the canoes. The guests were at once offered pipes
and for a time smoked in silence. Finally, the chief spoke,
telling the factor what tribes were represented in his 
company and how many canoes had arrived. The factor's reply
was on~ of welcome. The chief was next honoured with a 
gift of clothing. Decked out in a coarse cloth coat, 
red or blue, lined with baize, waistcoat and breeches of
baize, checked cotton shirt, and brightly coloured 
stockings, he strutted proudly about the room. The guests 
were then led back to their camp, a drummer beating a 
march. Here the whole company was entertained with brandy,
pipes, and tobacco. This entertainment was brought to a 
close by the pipe of peace, which all the braves and the 
chief factor joined in smoking. They then fell to the 
business of trading.
 In the early years of the Hudson's Bay Company, there 
was no fixed price of furs. The Indians took what they 
could get. At first, the articles given in exchange for 
furs were beads, toys, and other trinkets, of little 
real valije to the Indians. Later, the company gave the 
Indians those things which were needed in hunting-guns,
powder, powder-horns, shot, hatchets, and knives. Coats,
blankets, kettles, and tobacco were also used in trade.
A scale of values was soon fixed to govern trade. The 
value of articles of trade was commonly reckoned in 
beaver skins. Thus, for one beaver skin an Indian might
purchase two pounds of powder, four pounds of shot, or
two hatchets. A gun could seldom be bought for less than 
ten beavers.



Image:
ALEXANDER HENRY


145. The rivalry of the fur companies. - The conquest of
Canada by Great Britain brought about a great change in 
the fur trade.  The French Trading Company was broken up.
The  coureurs de bois,  who had served the company,
found themselves cast adrift. Refusing to give up the free
life of the woods, they threw in their lot with the 
Indians.  Other traders quickly took their place, mainly
Scottish Highlanders from Montreal. The 

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