TRADING. 205 
August 23d.—But few articles could be obtained in barter 
from these Indians, as they were so scantily supplied even 
with essentials, but what they had and would part with, was 
readily taken up by different persons in the command, con- 
spicuous among whom was a full blooded Choctaw, a team-~ 
ster, whom we had hired when we passed through the nation, 
a shrewd fellow, who had provided himself with quite a stock 
of goods, and obtained a good supply of white buckskins, 
bows and arrows, &c., in exchange for vermilion, looking- 
glasses and calico. 
In connection with this subject, I may remark, that the 
present system of trading with the prairie tribes has a great 
effect in checking all efforts of the government to prevent 
depredations upon the frontier settlements, and in this way, 
viz.,a number of Delawares, Shawnees and Kickapoos, have 
for several years visited these tribes, with such articles as are 
most necessary to them, and which they will have at any cost, 
and have made large profits by the traffic. The articles they 
take are of small value, such as tobacco, paint, knives, beads, 
calico and wampum; and as the Indians have nothing of suf- 
ficient value to exchange for them, except horses and mules, 
they necessarily give them, and in large numbers. All these 
animals are obtained by marauding upon the frontier, and 
in proportion to the amount traded for, so is the —— 
ing amount of depredation. 
A good plan to prevent this, would be an annual donation 
18* 
