That part of British North America known by the name of the Hudson's
Bay territory extends from the eastern coast in about 60° W. long. to
the Russian boundary in 142° W.; and from the Gulf of St. Lawrence,
along the Ottawa River and the northern shores of Lakes Huron and
Superior, and thence to the boundary line of the United States;
extending in latitude thence to the northern limit of America; being
in length about 2,600 miles, and in breadth about 1,400 miles. This
extensive space may be divided into three portions, each differing
most materially in aspect and surface. The first and most extensive is
that which is on the east, from the Labrador coast, round Hudson's
Bay, northward to the Arctic region, and westward to the Rocky
Mountains. This is entirely a wooded district, affording that
plentiful supply of timber which forms so large a branch of the
Canadian export trade. These interminable forests are principally
composed of pines of large size, but which towards the northern
boundary are of a very stinted growth. Another portion is the prairie
country, reaching from Canada westward to the Rocky Mountains, and
intersected by the boundary line of the United States. In general, the
soil is rich alluvial, which being covered with luxuriant herbage,
affords pasturage for the vast herds of wild buffaloes which roam over
these extensive plains. The western part is that which lies between
the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, including the Oregon
territory, which was likely to have led to a serious misunderstanding
between Great Britain and the United States.

These extensive portions are divided by the Hudson's Bay Company into
four departments, and these departments are again subdivided into
districts. At the head of each department and district a chief factor
or chief trader generally presides, to whom all the officers within
their respective jurisdictions are amenable. Those in charge of posts,