220 Expedition to the 



Each nation of Indians practises every art they can devise, 

 to prevent white traders from trafficking with their neigh- 

 bours, in order to engross as much as possible of the trade 

 themselves, and to be the carriers at second hand to the others. 

 For this purpese they sometimes intrigue deeply, and resort 

 to artful expedients. " You do not treat your traders as we 

 do," said a cunning Oto to some Pawnees, " we dictate to 

 them the rate of exchanges, and if they persist in refusing to 

 comply, we use force to compel them; we flog them, and by 

 these means we obtain our articles at a much lower rate than 

 you do" — thus endeavouring to induce those people to banish 

 traders from their village by ill treatment. 



In trade the largest sized beaver skin is called by the 

 French a plus, and constitutes the chief standard of value. 

 Thus as many of any other description of skins, as are con- 

 sidered of equal value with this large beaver skin, are col- 

 lectively denominated si plus; and the number of deer, rac- 

 coon, otter, &c. that shall respectively constitute a plus, is 

 settled between the parties, previously to the commencement 

 of the exchanges. 



Brass kettles are usually exchanged for beaver skins, pound 

 for pound, which weight of the latter is worth about three 

 dollars at St. Louis 



The beaver skins are embodied into neat packs by the 

 traders, each weighing one hundred pounds, and consisting 

 of seventy or eighty skins according to their magnitude. 



The business of this hunt having terminated with the year, 

 the Omawhaws return to their village, in order to procure a 

 supply of maize from their places of concealment, after which 

 they continue their journey, in pursuit of bisons. 



On this occasion they divide into two parties, one of which 

 ascends the Missouri, and the other the Elk -horn rivers. 

 The party which discovers a herd, gives notice of the fact to 

 the other party, by an especial messenger, and invites them 

 to join in the pursuit of it. 



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