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Show 18 fur trade in the Rockies, went to the mouth of the Verdigris, and there continued for many years as the principal trader of the region. Chouteau and De Mun men must have trapped a large part of the area of present Colorado, and were doubtless the first American explorers of some sections of this mountain region. But no satisfactory account of their trapping and exploration has been preserved. However, one of their men, Joseph Bijeau (Bijou or Bissonet), accompanied Major Long to the mountains in 1820, and was able to give the official explorer descriptions of the country far beyond the route of the government expedition's march. For example, Long records an accurate description of North Park, at'the head of North Platte River, even though this picturesque, mountain-encircled area was some sixty miles west of the major's route. An account of a great trading council with the Indians in l8l6, near the site of Denver, was also given by Bijeau.15 It is obvious that the Ute's land was being invaded by substantial numbers; still, there were no major difficulties with the Utes. With the Adams Onis Treaty of 1819, a renewed interest came from the United States for the furs of the Colorado area. It was the winning of Independence by Mexico, and the opening of the Santa Fe Trail which caused the influx of Americans to New Mexico. A large part of those\who stayed in New Mexico did so in order to trap fur. Much of the trapping was to be carried on in Ute Indian territory. Etienne Provost had been in Ute country with the Chouteau- De Mun party from 1815-1817. Later, he founded his own company and seems to have done his trapping mainly in the Ute country. Several 15Ibid. , pp. 66-67. |