Original - North Central Michigan College Library

antiI remained at Fort des Prairies till thetwenty-second of March, on which day Icommenced my return to Beaver Lake.Fort des Prairies, as already intimated, isbuilt on the margin of the Pasquayah, or Sascatchiwaine,which river is here two hundredyards across and flows at the depth of thirtyfeet below the level of its banks. The fort hasan area of about an acre, which is enclosed bya good stockade, though formed only of poplar,or aspen wood, 66 such as the country affords.It has two gates, which are carefully shut everyevening, and has usually from fifty to eightymen for its defense.Four different interests were struggling forthe Indian trade of the Sascatchiwaine; butfortunately they had this year agreed to jointheir stock, and when the season was over, todivide the skins and meat. This arrangementwas beneficial to the merchants, but not directlyso to the Indians, who, having no otherplace to resort to nearer than Hudson's Bay orCumberland House, paid greater prices than ifa competition had subsisted. A competition,on the other hand, afflicts the Indians with avariety of evils in a different form.The following were the prices of goods atFort des Prairies:A gun ................. 20 beaver skins66This fort, or one which occupied a contiguous site,was formerly known by the name of Fort aux Trembles.Author.303