—25— 
cupied a certain district for trading and trapping, and 
afterwards they amalgamated into a single company, 
which was carried on under the firm name of Chou- 
teau, Pratte & Co. Several small companies were 
formed still later, which erected trading forts on the 
Missouri, on the North and South Platte, on the Ar- 
kansas and on the Green River; but none of them at- 
tained any marked preponderance. 
While the knowledge of the country in general 
was much enlarged by the trading trips above de- 
scribed, much was also done in a scientific direction 
by men who had joined such expeditions on account 
of devotion to the natural sciences. So the well 
known naturalist, Nuttal, and the botanist, Bradbury, 
accompanied Hunt’s Expedition to the point where it 
left the Missouri. In Long’s Expedition there was 
Say, who has rendered such services to zoology. The 
Prince of Neuwied, too, so favorably known for his 
zeal for the natural sciences, undertook about this 
time a scientific trip up the Missouri. Finally, Cap- 
tain Wyeth was accompanied by Nuttal and Towns- 
hend. Though these men accomplished much, often 
at great sacrifices, very much more remains to 
done; for the country is rich in treasures for every 
branch of the natural sciences, and the difficulties and 
dangers of the journey alone have as yet prevented 
their exploitation. 
Geographical 
and 
Historical 
Survey~ 
