INDIAN NATIONS, &c.~BOOK I. 
8.9 
Before the change of government, the mode of Carrying on 
the Indian traffic, like all other colonial trade, was by monopo¬ 
lies, in which the interest of the governor or intendant was 
alone consulted. The traders obtained the exclusive privilege 
of trading to a particular tribe, or upon a certain river. But 
they were cramped in their enterprise by the narrow views of 
the government, who established no forts for the protection of 
the trade, nor would sanction the establishment of companies 
capable of protecting themselves. Since the change, a more 
extended theatre has been opened, both on the Mississippi and 
Missouri; and enterprising individuals have ventured up those* 
rivers with great prospects of advantage. The merchandise 
consumed in this trade, was chiefly brought from New Orleans 
or Michilimakinac. The place of rendezvous on the Mississip¬ 
pi, was at prairie du Chien, but there were no fixed trading esta¬ 
blishments. It was usual for the traders to ascend the rivers in 
the autumn, remain during the winter at a spot considered most 
convenient for the resort of the Indians, and return to St* 
Louis on the breaking up of the ice in the spring, with the pro¬ 
duce of their traffic. The only permanent trading establish¬ 
ments on the waters of the Missouri, were those of Chateau’s, 
on the Osage river. Others, wintered with the Mahas, Poncas, 
and at different points on the river. A trader of the name of 
L’Oiselle, had a fort on Cedar island, in the country of the Si¬ 
oux, nearly twelve hundred miles up. This trade could not 
have been considerable; and besides, the traders were exceed¬ 
ingly harassed by vagabond Indians, who frequently pillaged, 
carried away in captivity, or even murdered them and their 
men. 
Notwithstanding the freedom of trading was open to all, on 
possession being taken by the United States, it was not until 
after the return of Lewis and Clark from their expedition that 
any perceptible change took place. Mr. Manuel Lisa, an enter¬ 
prising gentleman of St. Louis, was the first to venture towards 
the source of the Missouri for the purpose of trading. His own 
capital not being adequate to the undertaking, lie was joined by 
two or three gentlemen of St Louis. A brief account of his 
expedition, as it may be considered somewhat connected with 
