190 AUDUBON 



formerly heavily covered with timber, but now entirely 

 destitute. Opposite the fort is a high perpendicular bank 

 of black clay, rising from the river to the height of 150 

 feet ; from this all that takes place within the walls of the 

 fort can be seen, which would seem to have rendered the 

 placing of the fort in such a position extremely inju- 

 dicious. But not through carelessness was this done ; it is 

 simply the sole place in this section of country, near the 

 river, where a fort can be built, as the land is so rough 

 and uneven as to render the erection of a fort at any 

 other spot impossible. From this bank little or no danger 

 is apprehended, as the river is about one hundred yards 

 wide, and a ball fired by the Indians from this height, 

 and at this distance, with the weapons that they have, 

 would be incapable of doing any execution. Timber in 

 this country has become very scarce ; points which a few 

 years ago were covered with heavy forests of the different 

 kinds of wood of the district have by some law of nature 

 become entirely destitute, especially a point below the 

 island called by the voyageurs the ' Grand Isle ' (which 

 is situated at the commencement of the Mauvaises 

 Terres), where it has dwindled to a few scattering cotton- 

 woods and box elders ; and this is the only wood now to 

 be found in this section of the country between ' Grand 

 Isle ' and the ' Great Falls ' of the Missouri. It is with 

 the greatest difficulty and economy that from the little 

 wood to be found the fort is supplied with the necessary 

 fuel; this is dealt out as a ration, allowing a certain 

 quantity to each room, sufficient, however, to do the cook- 

 ing, and warm the inmates. At all times, except when 

 serving the ration, the wood is kept closely locked. This 

 is one of the privations of the country, and, indeed the 

 country affords very little which adds to the comfort of 

 the trader who makes these wilds his home, except such 

 as can be procured from the wild animals. Three sides 

 of the fort are built of pickets of hewn cottonwood, 



