Roiky Mountainfi. 249 



teau, previously to the cession of the territory to the Ameri- 

 can government. The monopoly of the Missouri trade hav- 

 ing been granted to Mr. Manuel Lisa, by the Spanish au- 

 thorities, Mr. Chouteau, a rival trader, could no longer 

 traffick with them on the waters, or within a certain distance 

 of the Missouri. He, therefore, managed to separate a con- 

 siderable portion of the nation from the interest of his rival, 

 and induced them to establish a town near the Arkansa, of 

 the trade of which river he enjoyed a monopoly. 



VOL. II. 32 



