deaden the spirit of mercantile application as an unjust monopoly, is evident, from an old record of the year 1742; which runs thus:

When the Indians came to the factory "in June 1742, they could get but a pound "of gunpowder for four beaver skins, a

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pound of shot for one beaver, an ell of "coarse cloth for fifteen, a blanket for "twelve, two fish-hooks or three flints for ❝one, a gun for twenty-five skins, a pistol "for ten, a hat with a white lace for seven,

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ઃઃ

an axe for four, a hedging-bill for one, a

gallon of brandy for four, a checked shirt "for seven; all which was sold at the

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monstrous profit of 2000 per cent. Not"withstanding which discouragement, the "Indians brought down to Port Nelson "that season 50,000 beaver skins, and 9000 "martens; these beaver skins being worth "five or six shillings a pound; whereas

"those

"those which the English purchase at New "York are not worth more than three shil"lings and sixpence a pound.

"Besides these skins, the Indians, during "the same year (1742), brought to the factory, at Churchill, 20,000 beaver skins."

If the Indians were industrious at a season when their labour was so miserably repaid, they would consequently become, at this moment, much more diligent; because, owing to the competition before noticed, they are certain of meeting with something like an adequate return for their commodities.

To this increased activity of the natives is probably owing the late very visible diminution in the staple article of their commerce, the beaver skins; as it is evident that those animals are becoming much more

scarce,

of the perseverance

scarce, in consequence of the

with which their haunts are sought out and invaded.

The 28th of September having at length arrived, and the mercury in Fahrenheit's thermometer having sunk to 20°, we gave up all hopes of the schooner returning from Churchill; and came to the melancholy conclusion, that she must have perished on her voyage. We therefore weighed anchor from York River, and steered our course towards the north, with an intention of touching, if possible, at the former place, to seek information of the schooner, and to get the furs from that factory; but a brisk gale springing up, from the N. w. which was immediately against us, we gave up our design of visiting Churchill, and bore away for Hudson's Straits. From henceforward we had one continued gale in our favour, until we reached the Orkneys, after

an