1 88 AUDUBON 



of 1838, Mr. Culbertson had from it 520 bushels of pota- 

 toes, and as many other vegetables as he required for the 

 use of the fort. Rainy seasons prove most favorable in 

 this climate for vegetation, but they rarely occur. It is 

 indeed pleasant to know that the enterprising men who 

 commenced, and have continued with untiring persever- 

 ance, the enlargement of the Indian trade, and labored 

 hard for the subordination, if not civilization, of the In- 

 dians, should occasionally sit down under their own vine 

 and fig-tree, and enjoy at least the semblance of living 

 like their more quiet, though not more useful brothers in 

 the United States." 



FORT Mckenzie 



By ALEXANDER CULBERTSON, Esq. August 7, 1843 



"The American Fur Company, whose untiring persever- 

 ance and enterprise have excited the wonder and admira- 

 tion of many people, both in this and other countries, and 

 who have ah-eady acquired a well-earned fame for their 

 labors among the aborigines of this wilderness, and who 

 are now an example of the energy of the American people, 

 had, until the year 1832, no stations among the Blackfeet, 

 Piegans, Blood Indians, or Gros Ventres de Prairie, these 

 tribes being so hostile and bloodthirsty as to make the 

 trading, or the erecting of a fort among them too danger- 

 ous to be attempted. At last, however, these dangers 

 and difficulties were undertaken, commenced, and sur- 

 mounted, and Fort McKenzie was erected in the very 

 heart of these tiibes. The fort was begun in 1832, under 

 the superintendence of David D. Mitchell, then one of the 

 clerks of the Company, now U. S. Superintendent of 

 Indian Affairs. The fort was completed by me, Alexander 

 Culbertson, then a clerk of the Company, now one of the 



