apids as close as is
safe, unload their cargoes, and carry them on their backs to the
selected spot below the obstruction in the river. Then the boats have
to be hauled ashore, and dragged overland by the united strength of the
several crews to the same place; here they are again launched, and with
cargoes aboard, the journey is resumed. On some of these trips the
number of portages runs up into the scores. Great lakes have to be
crossed where fierce storms at times rage, and where head-winds blow
with such fury, that sometimes the brigades are delayed many days.

At Norway house,--which for many years was the great northern depot for
the company's goods, and the great distributing centre for the interior
parts,--this first brigade would exchange its cargo of goods for the
bales of rich furs which another brigade, that had come from the further
interior, perhaps from Athabasca or the Saskatchewan country, had
brought down thus far on their way to the ships for the London market.
Then this second brigade would return hundreds of miles into the
interior; and, meeting another brigade from regions still more remote,
would exchange its cargo of goods with this third brigade, for regions
yet more distant. Thus it would go on, until some of the bales of goods
were more than three thousand miles from the seaboard where they were
landed; and the different posts had their supply of goods for the fur
trade with the Indians. So it happened, that years elapsed ere the
goods reached some of the places; and the furs also were years in
reaching the ship for England.

All of this heavy work was performed by the Indian boatmen, or
"trippers," as they were called. They were the fur-hunters during the
cold winter months; but so long as there was open water--that is, no
ice--they were employed by hundreds to take in goods and bring out furs.

The one despotic command delivered to these brigades by the company was,
"push on!" They argued: The summer in these high latitudes is short; we
must make the most of it. Every day tells, and there must be no lagging
by the way. The result was, that the men were worked to the last degree
of endurance. Many failed at the oar, while others dropped under the
heavy loads on the difficult portages. "Fill up the ranks quickly, and
push on," was the order. It was all excitement, and rush, and high
pressure, from the beginning of the tripping season until the close.
There was no relaxation--no Sa