Sturdy, enduring, ingenious, and light-hearted, they possessed a spirit capable of adapting itself to any emergency.

No difficulties baffled, no hardships discouraged them; while their affectionate nature led them to form attachments of the warmest character to their "bourgeois," or master, as well as to the native inhabitants, among whom their engagements carried them.
Montreal, or, according to their own pronunciation, _Marrialle_, was their depot.

It was at that place that the agents commissioned to make up the quota for the different companies and traders found the material for their selections.
The terms of engagement were usually from four to six hundred livres (ancient Quebec currency) per annum as wages, with rations of one quart of lyed corn, and two ounces of tallow per diem, or "its equivalent in whatever sort of food is to be found in the Indian country." Instances have been known of their submitting cheerfully to fare upon fresh fish and maple-sugar for a whole winter, when cut off from other supplies.
It was a common saying, "Keep an engage to his corn and tallow, he will serve you well--give him pork and bread, and he soon gets beyond your management." They regard the terms of their engagement as binding to the letter.

An old trader, M.Berthelet, engaged a crew at Montreal.

The terms of agreement were, that they should eat when their bourgeois did, and what he did.