They lived in their tepee with their Indian squaws and lolled on their blankets while the squaws cooked their venison and did all the work.

They let their hair grow long and wore feathers in it; they painted their faces hideously with ochre and vermilion.
These were the worthless traders and adventurers who, from the year 1748 to 1783, encroached on the hunting grounds of the Indians and explored the wilderness, seeking out the remote tribes and trading the villainous rum for the rare pelts.

In 1784 the French authorities, realizing that these vagrants were demoralizing the Indians, warned them to get off the soil.

Finding this course ineffectual they arrested those that could be apprehended and sent them to Canada.

But it was too late: the harm had been done: the poor, ignorant savage had tasted of the terrible "fire-water," as he called the rum and his ruin was inevitable.
It was a singular fact that almost every Indian who had once tasted strong drink, was unable to resist the desire for more.