most famous of these was Alexander Henry. Henry fol-
lowed the course of the Ve'rendrye travels and reached 
the Saskatchewan. Here he came upon several of his fellow
-countrymen, who were already trading with the Indians.
By building several trading posts these Montreal traders 
succeeded in stopping many of the Indians on their way to
Hudson   Bay. Later they combined to form the North-West
Company.



Image:
FUR TRADERS ON THEIR WAY TO THE
NORTHERN PORTS


The fur trade was now divided between these groups of trad-
ers, the North-West Company and the Hudson's Bay Company. 
To a great extent the two companies traded over the same 
territory.   Their trading-stations were planted, in some
eases, not more than two or three miles apart. At first 
there was no violence. The rivals met in forest or on 
stream, shook hands, smoked, broke bread together, and 
then separated. Soon, however, competition grew keener, 
And greed overcame all feeling of friendliness.  Acts of
violence became common. Thefts of furs and brutal assaults
upon defenders of outlying stations were frequent. As 
a rule the men of the Canadian company were the offenders,
being of a more lawless character and less under the 
control of their employers.
146. The Selkirk sett1ement. - Up to this time 
men's only interest in the land west of lake Superior had
been the fur trade. Lord Selkirk, the founder of 
settlements in Prince Edward Island and in Upper Canada, 
was the first to think of planting a colony in the West.
As a first step in his plan he bought shares in the 
Hudson's Bay Company. He then persuaded the company
to sell him one hundred and sixteen thousand square miles
of land in the Red River district. Gathering a small band 
of colonists, he placed them under the leadership of a 
Loyalist officer named Miles Macdonell. This first party
of Selkirk Settlers, seventy-six in number, arrived at 
York Factory on Hudson Bay in September, 1811, and there 
spent the winter.  In the spring following the colonists 
were able to go inland.  The  journey, of seven hundred 
and twenty-eight miles, was completed in fifty-five days.
They reached their destination on August 30th, 1812, and 
there, on the banks of the Red River, founded the Selkirk
settlement. Other bands of colonists came out within the 
next few years and helped to keep alive the hopes of the 
earliest settlers. Such was the beginning of the Province
of Manitoba.
 


Image:
LORD SELKIRK


  147.  The north-west passage by land.-While the rivalry
of the fur companies gave rise to many evils, it had at 
least one good result. In their eagerness to outstrip one 
another, 

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The West 1763-1812, The West 1812-1841, Western Canada,
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