having, as I was informed, brought no arms or
warlike instruments with them, except their bows
and arrows, with flutes for music, of their own
making, which appeared simple, but pleasing to
themselves. Some of the British officers asked
them to play, which they readily did, by putting
the instrument to the mouth, and sometimes to the
nose; as handily to the one as the other.

This evening had the company of capt. John Drake

,
a coaster between this and Mackinaw, distant one
hundred and thirty leagues — sails in a sloop of se-
venty or eighty tons burthen. He gave us some
account of the north-west fur trade, and the man-
ner of its being carried on by the companies con-
cerned, who employ many hundred men, that stay
many years in the country, travelling and trading
with the northern Indians for peltry; an abundance
of which, of the richest kind, is brought from the
high northern latitudes, which nets the companies
very large profit. But among what people, or in
what part of the world, except the Canadian French,
could persons be found for their purpose, I know
not. They are allowed a very small portion of
provisions from this to the Grand Portage, at the
head of Lake Superior, which is about eight hun-
dred miles; there they are allowed about one bushel
(forty-two quarts French measure) of Indian corn
per man, for a year, and a little fat, which they
may use at their own discretion. The corn is pre-
pared in a curious manner at Detroit, being first
boiled in strong lye, which takes off the outside
hull; afterwards it is spread out and dried, then
packed up for use. With this they set out, and re-
turn not until the end of the year, when a fresh