One blanket, six beavers.
Two bayonets, one beaver. Four fire-steels, one beaver. One pistol,
four beavers. Twelve needles, one beaver. One four-foot gun, twelve
beavers. Three knives, one beaver, and so on over a long list of
various articles. Some of the things exchanged nearly 130 years ago,
show that the Indians had a good knowledge of trade, and of objects
used by civilised people. For example; brandy (English), one gallon,
four beavers. Vermilion, one and a half ounces, one beaver; and combs,
egg-boxes, files, glasses, goggles, handkerchiefs, hats (laced), hawk-
bells, rings, scissors, spoons, shirts, shoes, stockings, and thimbles.
The factors were accused of imposing upon the Indians by using
defective weights and measures; and it was said that the doubtful
profit thus made, in opposition to the standards sent out from England,
was called the "overplus-trade."
In the year 1748, the forts and settlements of the Hudson's Bay Company
"in the Bay" were:--
_Latitude_
Moose Fort 51 28
Henley House, or Fort 52
The East Main House 52 10
Albany Fort 52 18
York Fort 57 10
Prince of Wales' Fort 59
This limited occupation contrasts in a marked manner with the area of
posts, all over the continent, at this later date; see a list at pp.
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