\2<i 



EXPEDITION TO THE 



Aligawi, or other nations that were found east of the Al- 

 leghanj^ Mountains, In speaking of the early impression 

 made by the Dacotas on Europeans, Charlevoix observed, 

 that they were considered to have a better conception than 

 any other Indians of the attributes of the Supreme Being. 



Our visit to Lake Travers having been announced to the 

 gentlemen of the Columbia Fur Company, by a messenger 

 sent to them from Big Stone Lake, the party were receiv- 

 ed on their arrival with a national salute ; and other de- 

 monstrations of friendly hospitality were manifested, not 

 only at that time, but also during the few days which 

 they spent there. 



The Columbia Fur Company was created in 1822 ; it 

 consists of but few individuals, who being all practically 

 acquainted with the Indian trade, in which they had pre- 

 viously been engaged in the service of the Hudson's Bay 

 or North-West Company, resolved after the consolidation 

 of these two companies into one, to establish themselves 

 on the United States' territory, and to trade with the In- 

 dians south of the boundary line, under licences granted by 

 the Indian agent at the mouth of the St. Peter. Their capital 

 is not very large, but being all active, intelligent, and expe- 

 rienced, they will, we doubt not, succeed. Their principal 

 establishment is at Lake Travers; its situation is judicious- 

 ly selected, as it is at the head of the navigation of the St. 

 Peter and Red Rivers, in the midst of a country which 

 abounds in buffalo, so that they can lay in ample stores of 

 provisions for their wintering parties. By extending their 

 excursions to the head waters of the Mississippi, and as 

 far on the Missouri as the Indians will permit, they will 

 be able to obtain large supplies of beaver and other valua- 

 Ible skins, and as their object appears to be merely to trade 

 with the Indians, and not to hunt upon their lands, they 



