THE MISSOURI RIVER JOURNALS 



193 



twenty-four feet square, is used as a reception room for 

 war and trading parties; a door leads from this to the 

 passage formed by the double gates, thereby cutting off 

 all communication with th interior of the fort. In this 

 room all parties are received by the interpreter, who is 

 always ready to smoke and talk with the Indians. Next 

 to this room is a passage formed by the double gates, and 

 two parallel lines of pickets extending inwards, making the 

 passage about thirty feet long and twelve wide ; at the ends 

 are two large gates, about twelve feet wide and the same 

 height. Opposite the room last described is a similar one 

 20 by 15 ft., in which the Indians bring their robes to trade. 

 Next this is a trade store, where are kept goods, trinkets, 

 etc., to be traded with the Indians. The trading is done 

 through a window or wicket two feet square, and a foot 

 thick, strongly hinged to the picket; this opening is at 

 the command of the trader, who can open or close it, as 

 the Indians may appear friendly or otherwise, thereby 

 completely cutting off, if necessary, all communication be- 

 tween the Indians and the trade store; and it is through 

 this opening only that trade is carried on. Next this is a 

 room twenty-four feet square, where all goods obtained 

 from the Indians are placed as soon as the trade is fin- 

 ished; and adjoining the trade shop is a room, between it 

 and the pickets, about ten feet square, with a window and 

 door opening into the trade shop, with a chimney, fire- 

 place, and stove used only for warming the trader when off 

 duty, or when awaiting the arrival of Indians. Along the 

 east line of pickets, and about forty feet from them, is 

 another range of buildings, about a hundred feet long and 

 twenty deep, divided into five apartments. The first 

 three are for storing packs of robes, furs, peltries, etc., and 

 will hold eighteen hundred packs of rob the fourth 



room is a retail store, 15 by 20 ft., in wh.^ii is always a 

 good assortment of stores, the prices fixed by a regular 

 tariff, so no cheating is possible. All whites buy and sell 



VOL. II. — 13 





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