Journey up 
the North 
Fork—The 
oo Dog 
—Fo: 
Laramie 
68 = 
smithy; the others are dwellings not unlike monks’ 
cells. A special portion of the court yard is occupied 
by the so-called horse-pen, in which the horses are con- 
fined at night. The middle space is free, with a tall 
tree in it, on which the flag is raised on occasions of 
state. The whole garrison of the fort consists of only 
five men; four Frenchmen and a German. Some of 
them were married to Indian women, whose cleanli- 
ness and neat attire formed an agreeable contrast to 
the daughters of the wilderness whom we had hither- 
to seen. In this connection, let me call attention to a 
mistaken idea often entertained as to these forts. 
They are often thought of as military forts, occupied 
by regular troops, and under military rule, whereas 
they are mere trading forts, built by single trading 
companies, and occupied by a handful of hired men 
to have a safe point for storing their goods, from 
which barter may be carried on with the Indians. Such 
forts exist on both sides of the Rocky Mountains, es- 
tablished by American and English companies; but 
nowhere is there a military fort erected by the gov- 
ernment of either country. The simple construction, 
as above described, protects them adequately against 
any attack on the part of the Indians. Out of abund- 
ant caution some of them have a little cannon on the 
wall. As far as I know, there is no fort on the North 
Platte save Fort Laramie; but several American trad- 
ing companies have built forts along the South Platte, 
the Arkansas, the Green River, and the Missouri. Be- 
yond the Rocky Mountains are only English forts. 
