Alexander Mackenzie's Journeys It has been already mentioned that the conquest of Canada by the British led to a great increase in travel for the development of the fur trade.

Previously, under the French, permission was only granted to a few persons to penetrate into the interior to trade with the natives, commerce being regarded as a special privilege or monopoly to be sold or granted by the Crown.

But after the British had completely assumed control, nothing was done to bar access to the interior.

So long as the Catholic missionaries had been practically placed in charge of the Amerindians, and had served as buffers between them and unscrupulous traders, they--the Amerindians--had been saved from two scourges, smallpox and strong drink.[1] But now, unhappily, all restrictions about trade in alcohol were removed.

In their eagerness to obtain ardent spirits and "high" wine, the Indians eagerly welcomed British traders and French Canadians in their midst.