The Great Company : $b being a history of the honourable company of merchants-adventurers trading into Hudson's BayWillson, Beckles
History
The Great Company : $b being a history of the honourable company of merchants-adventurers trading into Hudson's Bay
Willson, Beckles
Fur trade -- Canada; Hudson's Bay Company; Northwest, Canadian -- History
the Indians testifying by shouts and playful postures to their joy at
his arrival. He quickly learned from them that his nephew and the
other Frenchmen were above the rapids, four leagues from the place
where they then were. They had expected Groseilliers would accompany
Radisson, and when they expressed surprise that this was not the case,
Radisson did not scruple to tell them that Groseilliers awaited him at
a short distance.
"But what," asked Radisson, "are you doing here? What brings you into
this part of the country and in such numbers?"
The savage leader's sudden confusion betrayed him to Radisson. The
circumstance of the Indians voluntarily seeking trade with the English
greatly simplified the situation.
"Look you," said he, heartily, at the same time calling to Captain
Geyer, who was in ambush hard by, "I am glad to find you seeking trade
with the English. I have made peace with the English for the love of
our Indian brothers; you, they and I are to be henceforth only one.
Embrace us, therefore, in token of peace; this (pointing to Geyer) is
your new brother. Go immediately to your son at the fort yonder and
carry him these tidings and the proofs of peace. Tell him to come and
see me at this place, while the others will wait for me at the mouth
of the river."
It should be mentioned that the chief of this band had previously
announced himself as young Chouart's sire, according to the Indian
custom. He now readily departed on his mission.
Radisson passed an anxious night. The sun had been risen some hours
before his eyes were gladdened by the sight of a canoe, in which he
descried Chouart. The young man's countenance bore, as well it might,
an expression of profound amazement; and at first hardly the bare
civilities of relationship passed between the pair. Chouart waited
patiently for his uncle to render an explanation of the news which had
reached him. Silently and slowly they walked together, and after a
time the prince of liars, traitors, adventurers and bushrangers began
his account of his position.
Radisson states that his nephew immediately acquiesced in his scheme.
A memoir penned in 1702, the year of Radisson's death, by M. Barthier,
of Quebec, asserts that the young man received with the utmost
disgust, and flatly declined to entertain, his relative's proposals.
He expressed, on the other hand, the greatest grief on hearing the
news; for he had begun to believe that it was through their efforts
that the dominion of the king had been extended in that region. Now it
appeared that this labour had all been in vain. It was only his love
for his mother, Radisson's sister, which prevented an open rebellion
on the part of Chouart against the proposed treachery.
[Sidenote: Chouart surrenders to Radisson.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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