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[W]ith these Furs they travelled in winter upwards of a month carrying them on their Backs or dragging them on Sledges, leaving their Families near two Hundred miles behind[.] This was far from suiting their Purpose as they often Starved in Such tedious Journeys & only two thirds of them could go to the Fort as it was necessary that one third of them Should remain to take of the Families during the others absence[.] So At Length the Company was persuaded by interested motives to eastablish a Post at Martin Lake the third year after the Commencement of commerce was opened with these Tribes[.] [T]his new Post was fifteen days march nearer to their Lands consequently the Trade was carried with better Success and greater Ease[.] This again was yet found too inconvenient as being Still distant from their Families, so that in the year 1796 M^r Duncan Levingsten by the Companies order Built a Fort in the Grand River about eighty miles from its Source[.] [U]nder his Government these People were new modelled & and brought under an implicit obedience to the whites authority[.] He enjoyed his success which was great for the space of three years when he was Killed in company with three Canadians and his Interpreter, on a discovery to the Sea by the way of the Grand River – about eight days march downwards from this Place – Per a fierce Nation Known by the Name of Esquimeaux, who inhabit the Borders of the Ocean[.] [A]fter his demise which happened in 1799 M^r John Thomson was promoted to his Place, who divided the year following this Nation into two distinct Bodys, but instead of an increase of Trade as was expected a draw Back of Six Packs was experienced the first, Sixteen the Next and So conti[nued]

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