Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 13.djvu/199

SLACUM'S REPORT ON OREGON, 1836-7 191 A council annually assembles at "York Factory," where reports from the different "districts," east and west of the Rocky mountains are read and recorded, and their proceedings forwarded to London, to the "Hudson Bay house." Chief fac- tors and chief traders hold a seat at this council board, and Governor Simpson presides. It is here, that every new enter- prise is canvassed, expense and probable profits carefully in- inquired into, as each member feels a personal interest in every measure adopted. If it is ascertained that in certain "districts" the quantity of beaver diminishes, the trappers are immediately ordered to desist for a few years, that the animals may increase, as the wealth of the country consists in its furs ; and so strict are the laws among many of the northern Indian tribes that to kill a beaver out of season, (i. e. in the spring or summer,) is a crime punished with death. The enforcement of this law is strongly encouraged by the Hudson Bay Company. Not so careful, however, are the company of the territory not their own ; on the contrary, they have established, a fort and trading house called "McRoy's Fort," on the river Umpqua, in 43 50'. This fine stream falls into the Pacific, (but is not laid down in any printed map;) ten thousand beaver skins are collected here, and double this amount brought out of the country adjacent, within our lines ; and the Indians are encouraged to "trap the streams" at all seasons ; from Wallawallah, Lewis's river, and the Snake country, all lying between 42 and 46 north lati- tude, 50,000 skins are collected. The price of a beaver skin in the "Columbia district" is ten shillings, $2, payable in goods at 50 per cent on the invoice cost. Each skin averages one and a half pound, and is worth in New York or London $5 per pound; value $7 50. The beaver skin is the circulating medium of the country. Indian slavery. The price of a slave varies from eight to fifteen blankets. Women are. valued higher than men. If a slave dies within six months of the time of purchase, the seller returns one-half the purchase money. As long as the Hudson Bay Company permit their servants to hold slaves, the institu- tion of slavery will be perpetuated, as the price, eight to