英国语文第五册(双语):汉德森海湾(4)
The others are merely defended by wooden pickets or stockades; and a few, where the Indians are quiet and harmless, are entirely destitute of defence of any kind. Some of the chief posts have a complement of about thirty or forty men; but most of them have only ten, five, four, or even two, besides the gentleman in charge.
其他的则由木头警戒或者栅栏，一些地方的印第安人安静且无伤害性，这些地方的防御工事则全被撤离。一些邮局有30或者40个人做后备军，但大多是10个，5个，4个甚至2个，除了管理员绅士之外。
The trade carried on in this desolate region is in peltries of all sorts: oil, dried and salted fish, feathers, quills, and ivory.
这个孤立的区域进行的贸易是所有的生皮生意：燃油类，腌干鱼，羽毛，刺，象牙。
The most valuable of the furs which it produces is that of the black fox. This beautiful animal resembles in shape the common fox of England, but it is much larger, and jet black, with the exception of one or two white hairs along the back bone and a pure white tuft on the end of the tail. A single skin sometimes brings from twenty-five to thirty pounds in the British market! but—they are very scarce.
最有价值的皮毛是黑狐狸的。这个漂亮的动物在外型上与英格兰常见的狐狸很相像，但它更大，是深黑色的，除了在背后的骨头部位有一两髻白发在尾端有一从纯白色的髭毛。在英国市场上一块单独的皮能卖到25至30英镑。但是它们是很稀缺的。
Beaver, in days of yore, was the staple fur of the Territory; but, alas! the silk hat has given it its death-blow. The most profitable fur in the country is that of the marten. It somewhat resembles the Russian sable, and generally maintains a steady price. These animals, moreover, are very numerous, particularly in the region of Mackenzie River, whence great numbers of skins are annually sent to England.
在古代，海狸是这个地区主要的皮毛物种，但可惜的是，丝绸帽子使得其近乎消失。最有利可言的则是貂皮。在某种程度上，它看起来像俄罗斯紫貂，并通常保留了一个稳定的价格。而且，这些动物，数量很多，尤其是在麦肯齐市河流域，在那儿每年都有大量的貂皮被卖到英格兰。
