=Source.=--The Journal of James M'Kenzie in the Athabasca District,
printed in _Les Bourgeois de la Compagnie du Nord-Ouest_, by L. R.
Masson. Quebec, 1890.
16 Jan. This morning, Charles Cadien's comrade arrived and paid 62
skins.... He was so haughty on his arrival on account of his skins
that he threw the tobacco I gave him in my face, saying it was not
good, and that I lied when I said there was none better in the
fort. The men's advice, though not asked, was to pack the piece of
tobacco into the Indian's nose, or give him a kicking for his bad
breeding.... This rough usage I thought bad encouragement for him
to kill more beaver, and a very indifferent recompense for those
he had already brought, which I think made ample amends for his
insults. However, in case he might do the like again, perhaps when
he had no such substantial atonement to offer, I told him to take
care and not behave so impudently in future....
17 Feb. It is unnecessary telling always in the journal that every
Indian who arrives, whether good, bad, or indifferent, gets a bit
of tobacco and a dram; it suffices to tell once that it is the
custom of the place; and any one who reads of an Indian's arrival
may suppose that this custom is followed, and, should he wish to
know how many bits of tobacco and drams were expended, he can
count the Montagners on his fingers as he reads on; the number of
Montagners found will be the number of the bits of tobacco and
drams required. If he wishes to know the real value given, I will
tell him, the tobacco is always rotten and the rum mostly water....
28 March. Sent Marlin 15 measures mixed rum and 3 feet tobacco.
Now, for you, Antitheses Philosophers, who are for ever moved by
the spirit of contradiction and feel an itching to find fault where
there is none, here is a fine occasion to show your wonderful
parts and produce something worthy of your sect. Sending rum to
the Indians, according to you, is an unpardonable error in a poor
fellow's conduct; but may he beg leave, Gentlemen, to ask you a few
plain questions by way of vindication of his supposed error? Pray
then! will 19 packs of fine beaver have no weight in your debates?
If they will not, I am sure they will in the Gentlemen of the
North-West Company's pockets, when reduced into hard cash.
What is the reason you fret so much about sending rum to the
Indians more than other goods? Is it because 7 parts of the 8 of
this rum are pure water, of course, less expensive to the Company
and more pleasing to the Indians than other goods? No, Gentlemen,
I suppose you will say it is because it debauches the Indians and
renders them troublesome....
If the Indians be spoiled, it is the _Bourgeois_ and not the clerks
that do it; the former give the Indians every time they pass large
presents, which the latter are either afraid or forbidden to give;
the one, in consequence, is regarded by the Indians as a superior
being whom they must respect, the other is a mere tool to them whom
they despise and need not mind....
Here again, Gentlemen of the "Critic Class," you will reprimand my
warmth, which in your opinion is impertinence, to presume to speak
against my employers, but be pleased to recollect that, though I
have spoken against some of their actions, yet I have not against
their interests.