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Jacob Lindley's Account, 1793

SW_JL1793_Page_095

rats on the land, west, or above the great Falls of Niagara. Here is an abundance of corn boiled in strong lye, and made into what we call slut hominy, to go in the north-west trade, an far as a place called the Black North, said to be eighteen hundred miles dis-tant, now in the hands of British and Scotch mer-chants. They go thither in batteaux. I saw a man who resided there three years; who says, early in the spring they set out with choice peltry, such as beaver, otter, minks, martins, &;c. come to the great portage, where they are met by the batteaux from Montreal, exchange their load, and each returns just as winter sets in. To the north-west posts, Indians frequently come that never saw a white man before. They are clothed in buffaloe and bear skins, neatly softened, whitened and dressed. They are kind and good natured, use bows and arrows, and have no fire arms. They cover their cabins with large rough skins: as the merchants rarely purchase even deer skins; having such an abundance of more rich furs, that they cannot send the coarse skins forward. This trade is rich and extensive, and employs the capitals of many merchants, both in England and Canada. The great channel of this trade is down the Grand river from Huron lake, to which is but a short car-rying place. An immense quantity of skins pass this way. The whole of the trade makes way for large numbers of Canadian watermen to get a living. The wages for them, and also for hands on land, average about six pounds a month. Cows sell at fif-teen pounds a head— sheep, six dollars a piece — veal calves, twelve dollars each. The English and German farmers are likely to alter the manner of living, and customs in this place,