CHAPTER XI

THE FUR TRADERS OF MONTREAL

THE GREAT NORTH WEST COMPANY

MERCHANTS--NATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS ORIGINS--UP COUNTRY TRADE--EARLY COMPANIES--NORTH WEST COMPANY--CHARLES GRANT’S REPORT--PASSES--MEMORIALS--GEOGRAPHICAL DISCOVERIES--RIVAL COMPANIES--THE X.Y. COMPANY--JOHN JACOB ASTOR’S COMPANIES--- ASTORIA TO BE FOUNDED--THE JOURNEY OF THE MONTREAL CONTINGENT--ASTORIA A FAILURE--THE GREAT RIVAL--THE HUDSON’S BAY COMPANY--SIR ALEXANDER SELKIRK--THE AMALGAMATION OF THE NORTH WEST AND HUDSON’S BAY COMPANIES IN 1821--THE BEAVER CLUB 97