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Show 37 [ 243 J the usual accompaniment of children, the place lwd quite a populous appearance. It is hardly necessary to say, that the object of the e~tltblishrn ent is trade with the neighboring- tribes, who, in the co urse of the year, generully make two or three vi~its to the fort. In addition to this, traders with a small outfit nrc con ·t.antly kept among thcntl. 1,he articles of trade cotuJist on the one ide almost entirely of buflulo robes, and on the other, of blankets, calicoes, gnns, powder, and lead, with S11ch cheap ornaments as rrlass beads, looking glas cs, rings, vermillion for painting, tobacco, and principally, and in spite of the prohibition, of spirits, brought into the country in the form of alcohol, and diluted with water before sold. While mcntiouing this fact, it is but ju ·rice to the American Fur Company to stnte, that throtwltout tho COIJtlfry, I lwv always found them stren11ou:ly opposed to the introduction of spirituous liquors. But in the pre~ent slate of thincrs, when the cou ntry is suppli d with alcohol, when a keg of it will purchase from an Indian every thing he possesses-Ilia furs, his lodge, his horses, an<l even his wife and children-and when any vagabond who has money enough to purchase a mule can go into a village and trade against thern succcs~fully-wirhout withdrawing entirely from the trade, it is impossible for tltem to di ·continue its use. In their opposition to this practice, the company is sustai11ed, not only by th eir obligation to the laws of the country and the welfare of the Indians, but clearly, also, on groullds of policy; for, with heavy a11d expen-ive outfits, they contend at mnni~'stly great di~advantagc against the numerous independent and unlicensed trad ers, who enter the cou11try from various avenues, from the United States and from Mexico, having no other stock in tmde than some kegs of liquor, which they sell at the modest price of thirtysix dollars per gallon. 'rhe difrercncc between the reg ular trader nnd the coureurs des bois, as the f,rcnd1 call the itinerant or peddling trad ers, with respect to the sale of spirits, is !~ere as it always has been, fixed and pennanent, and growing out of the nature of their trade. 1,he reg ular trader looks ahead, and lws an interest in the prescrvar ion of the Indians, and in the regular pursuit of their business, and their preservation of their arms, hor 'es, and everything neces'ary to their future and pcrHJancnt succc s in lnwting: the couraur des bois has no permanent interest, and getR what he cau, and for what he can, from every ludian he meets, even at the risk of disabling l1irn from doing anything more at hunting. The fort lind u very cool and clean nppenrance. The grent entrance, in which I found the gentlemen assembled: a1H.J which was ilo01·cd, ;mel about fifteen f<)et long, made a pleasant, shaded scat , through which the breeze swept constantly; for this country is fnmous for high winds. In the cour ... e of co nversation, I learned the following particulars, which will explain the condition of the country. l•..,or several yenrs the Cheyc11ne8 and ioux had grudua]ly become more and nJore host ile to the whites, and in the latter part of Alwust, L81.1 , had had a rather severe engag-ement with a parry of sixty ll1en under the command of Mr. l~rapp, of St. Louis. The Indians lo$t eight or ten warrior:., aud the whites had th eir lender and four men killed. 'rhis fight took place on the waters of Snake ri ver; and it wn, this party, on tl1eir return llllder .Mr. Bridger, which ltad spread so much alarm among Ill)' people. l11 the course of the pring, two otiJCr r-::mall parties had b('en cut o~r by the Siot JX ~ unc on their rcllll'll from the Crow 11it lion , illld riH' other anwng the Black 1-Iill:S. 'rhc emigrnnrs to Or<'gon and Mr. Bridgc'r 8 party met. here, n. few day~ before our arrival. Division nud Jlli~lliHierslandings had grown up among them; they w 'rc nlrearly !40rn cwhat di ·IH•arrened hy the fatigue or their long anu wearisome journey) nud the feet of th eir cntlle J l f ., f ·- r ; llS 3r, th nd lte nts He up |