INDIANS. 187 



books, have the less for observation of men ; — and those who 

 meddle not with books, have no object upon which to direct 

 their observation but men, apart from their attention to their 

 particular art or pursuit. 



" Early in the 18th century a French trader, who went out 

 to the country of the Missouris, made them acquainted with 

 fire-arms, and sold them gunpowder and muskets. With 

 these new weapons their success in hunting was greatly 

 increased, and they obtained plenty of game and much fur. 

 Another trader went to them afterward w4th gunpowder, but 

 the Indians being supplied did not wish to purchase. The 

 trader invented a plan to sell his stock to them. The Indians 

 inquired how powder was made in France. He made them 

 believe that it was sown in grounds similar to their prairies, 

 and that they had crops of it, as of some grain which w^as 

 known to the Indians. The Missouris were pleased with 

 the discovery, and sowed their gunpowder, and were obliged 

 to buy of the Frenchman all he had, to make up their supply 

 for hunting. The trader did not remain till harvest : but the 

 Indians soon found out the trick. Fearing to return himself, 

 the Frenchman sent his partner out with goods to trade with 

 the same people, as the profits of this traffic were too great 

 to be abandoned. The Indians found out that he was asso- 

 ciated with the one who had duped them. They gave him 

 the public hut in the middle of the village to deposit his 

 goods in, and wdien they were all opened and unpacked the 

 Missouris came, and those who had bought gunpowder of his 

 partner took some of his goods ; and the Frenchman found 

 himself soon relieved of his stock in trade, but without re- 

 ceiving an equivalent. He complained to the chief, who told 

 him with great gravity and dignity that he should have jus- 

 tice done to him, but for that purpose he must wait for the 

 gunpowder harvest ; that his subjects had no means at pre- 



