for some time, they ultimately submitted to the authority of the priests, confessed their sins, received absolution, and became good Christians for the remainder of the season.  If any indulged in the favourite vice—­a few always did—­they were confined to their quarters by their families.  After attending mass on Sundays, they amused themselves playing at ball, or running foot races; and it was only on such occasions they were seen to associate with their neighbours the Iroquois.  They took opposite sides in the games; small stakes were allowed, merely to create an interest in the issue of the contest.  The chiefs of both tribes sat smoking their pipes together, viewing the sports in silent gravity, and acting as umpires in all cases of doubt between the parties.  They, in fact, led a glorious life during the three months they remained at the village; that period was to them a continued carnival.  The best fare the country afforded—­the best attire that money could procure—­all that sensuality, all that vanity could desire—­their means permitted them to enjoy.  Their lands not having been hunted on during the war, the beaver multiplied at an extraordinary rate, and now swarmed in every direction.  Every individual belonging to the tribe might then have acquired an independent fortune.  They arrived at the village, their canoes laden with furs; but the characteristic improvidence of their race blinded them to future consequences.  Such was their wasteful extravagance, that the money obtained by the sale of their furs was dissipated ere half the summer season was over.  The traders supplied them afterwards with all requisites at a moderate per centage; and when they embarked in autumn for their hunting grounds, they found themselves deeply involved in debt, a few only excepted.

In the course of this summer, some of our opponents foreseeing the probable issue of the contest they were engaged in, proposed terms of capitulation, which were in most instances readily assented to by the Company; the inventories and outstanding debts were assumed at a certain valuation.  They retired from the field, some with annuities for a stipulated period, while to others a round sum of money was granted; in either case the party bound himself, under certain penalties, not to interfere in the trade for a stated period of time.

In this manner the Company got rid of all petty opponents, with the exception of two who continued the unequal contest.  By the latter end of August the natives had all started for the interior, leaving behind only a few decrepit old men and women.  The scene was now completely changed; a death-like stillness prevailed where but a few days before all was activity, bustle and animation.  Two of my brother scribes were ordered to the interior; one[1] to the distant Lake Nipissingue, the other to the Chats.  Mr. Fisher set off to enjoy himself in Montreal, Mr. Francher, the accountant, being appointed locum-tenens