silk handkerchief is tied round his neck, and this compleats
his dress."

[Footnote 41: Umfreville, _Present State of Hudson's Bay_, 1790.]

The Chief thus gaily equipped is conducted back from the fort to his
own tent. "In the front a halbard and ensign are carried; next a
drummer beating a march; then several of the factory servants bearing
the bread, prunes, pipes, tobacco, brandy, etc. Then comes the Captain
[Chief], walking quite erect and stately, smoaking his pipe, and
conversing with the Factor."

Afterwards came the smoking of the sacred calumet, the pledge of peace
and unity, followed by the inspection of the merchandise, and a speech
from the Chief in this wise:--

"You told me last year to bring many Indians to trade,
which I promised to do; you see I have not lied; here are
a great many young men come with me; use them kindly, I
say; let them trade good goods; I say! We lived hard last
winter and hungry, the powder being short measure and
bad, I say! Tell your servants to fill the measure, and
not to put their thumbs within the brim; take pity on us,
take pity on us, I say! We paddle a long way to see you;
we love the English. Let us trade good black tobacco,
moist and hard twisted; let us see it before it is
opened. Take pity on us, take pity on us, I say! The
guns are bad; let us trade light guns, small in the hand
and well shaped, with locks that will not freeze in the
winter, and red gun cases. Let the young men have more
than measure of tobacco; cheap kettles, thick and high.
Give us good measure of cloth; let us see the old
measure; do you mind me? The young men love you, by
coming so far to see you; take pity, take pity, I say;
and give them good goods; they like to dress and be fine.
Do you understand me?"

By such yearly functions, by gifts, and a sober friendliness never
dissociated from the authority of the ruling race, the English company
held its sway after the French had retired.

[Illustration: SIR ALEXANDER MACKENZIE
(Celebrated North-West explorer)]

About this time, however, loud complaints were heard on all hands of
the want of enterprise of the Hudson's Bay Company in not seizing the
opportunities afforded by the charter. Its trade was lethargic, its
traders were timid or slothful, its people possessed none of that
audacity and adventure which had sent Frenchmen like Du Lhut and La
Verendrye into the wilds intent