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Show -t36 .. 8J1pcnrUx. many instances, from a spirit of opposition between een. tending applicants. much IDOI't:! was given than ever· the 1wofHs of the h·aftic wouhljusOf'y. The individual, of c..•oursc, h<·ranw L>anka·upt. 'l'his, J10wcvcr, was among the h·ast of thl' evils flowing l'r·om this system to the Indian; it produ-ced the evil of' COilll)cJfjng· him to pay such rnot·mous !HIIll~ f01· the at'ticlcs he j)lll'<'has<'d. that his g"l'eatcst cxcr·tions would not enable him to obtain aR much as he lHt<l pr·eviously been in the habit or c:urrsuudug. and which lw thc1·e. fore con(·civNlnc(•t>s ·a•·y to l•in1; l'ol' as this system l"'ogr·cssed the demands or the t)OV('I'IHH'S Lwramc UlOI'C cxor·hitant, and t1H· tJ·aclc•·· lo mcc..·t his en~agements, exacted highc1· 1wices ft·om the I nclians, l ltou~lt Ita· b':.tme became scar·eer iu thei•· conntt·y. 'l'hc mo•·als or the I uclian wet·c col'l'uptcd b.r placing before Jtim the ~tl'ticles which he viewed a · ol' the Dl'St necessity to him. at sueh j)J·iecs, thai he llad it not in his powcl' to JHll'ehasC'; he was thc•·cforc imJuectl, in ruany instar.cc·s. to take by fot·ce that which he Jw.d not the means or pa.' ing f01·; consoling JaimscJf with the idea, that the tradeJ• WaS t'OillJICJJec..l o(' necessity to jlOSSCSS himsrll' ol' the pclll'ies a.ml ful's, in ot·tlc·t· to med his cugagcmcnts wHh those from vdaoua he had JHII'Chasccl J1is mct·chandi ·c, as well as those who had assisted hilll in theis· ti·a.uspoJ·tation. He consequently couhl uot withch·a.w Jtimself ft·om their t•·adt, 'vithout incvitab[(- •·uin. 'rhe pt·evalence of this scnU111cnt among the Indian ·, was ,sti·ongi,Y imp•·csscc..l on my mind by an anecdote rdatccl to me by a gentleman, who had for scYcral years enjoyed, under the Spanish government, the exclusive privilege of h·ac..ling with the Little Osages. Ithappcmcd. that after he had Lm.i·tcred with them for all theit· peHr·ics and l'urs which they had ou hand, that they seized for·cihly on a number or guns and a qua.utity of ammunition which he had still 1·emaining; he rcnwnstt·a.ted with them a~ainst tlais act. or violence, anc.l finally concluded tJy dcc•lari •1; that he would never J'Ctlu·u a.mong them again, not· would he sutfcr any l>erson to bring them merchandise thct·c-artcr. 'l'hr.y heart\ him out very patirnt.ly, \vhen oncoftlaeil• leadrr·s pc1·tly asked him; if he did not J'etur·•.• lhc nrxt senson to obtain tlu·i•· pcU •·irs and fus·s~ how he an tend cl to ll:'Y the JlCI' 'OilS r.·om whom IH· had pul'clw.scd the Ill ·rchanthse they had then taken f'1·om him? 'l'hc Indians hclievt•d that these traders wet·e the mo!lt powerful persons in the nation; nor· tlid O•cy douut their ability to withhol(l me•·clmndisc from them; bu~ the. gt·<·~t thit· t displayecl by the tt·ad ·•·s fot· f he po ·sessaon o{ then' )JCltt·ics aml l'ur·s, acldccl to the belief tha.t they were com· pcllcd to continue thcil' traflic, was consjclet•c(l by t11e Indians a suHicicnt ~uarantce fo1· the continuance of their inter. eou•·se, and ther·efot·c l'elt themselves at liberty to lll'actise ag~ 1·cssions on the tra.(hws with impunity: thus they governed th~ tra.clel' by what tht')y t~ onceivcd his necessities to possess their furs ancl p ·HI'ics, •·ather thau goYcJ·ning themselves hy their own anxiety to ohtain merclmn(lisc, as they may most effectually be by a wcJJ r'c~ulatcd system. It is immaterial to the Jmlians how they obtain mcrd.antlisc; in }Jossession of a supply they feel imlellendent. The Indians found by a few ext•c•·imrnts of a.ggr·ession on the t•·atlel's, that as it respecteel themselves, it had a salutal'y effect; and although tltey had mistaken the legitimate cause or action on the llart of Hte trader, the result bciug favonl'able to themselves, they continued theit·lwa.cticc. The fact is, that the trader was compcllcc..l to continue his trade under every disadvantage, ilt ol'dcr to make gootl his engagements to the governors; for having secured thei1· protection, they wct·e safe, both in J>Crson and IWOpeJ·fy t-.·om thcit· othc•· creditors, who were, f'Ol' the JOOSlll:tl't, the mct·clJants of l\'lontt•eal. rl'hc fit•st em.·ct of these t~cpredationo ol' the Indians, Wa5 the intl·oduction of a l'UiUOUS CUStom among the tt•a.ders, of extending to them a. Cl'etlit. rrbc tradcl's, who visited the Indians on the Mjssoul'i, arrived at thci1• wintet·ing station! fl'OIU the latter end or September to the middle of October: 1\cre they carriml on their traffic mttil the latter end of |