92 
VIEWS OF LOUISIANA. 
trade. This mail, with a pack of thirty pounds weight, his gun 
and some ammunition, went upwards of five hundred miles to 
the Crow nation ; gave them information, and proceeded from 
thence to several other tribes. On his return, a party of In¬ 
dians in whose company he happened to be, was attacked, 
and he was lamed by a severe wound in the leg; notwithstand¬ 
ing which, he returned to the establishment, entirely alone 
and without assistance, several hundred miles. Yet such instan¬ 
ces of intrepidity would not be regarded amongst those people, 
as any way extraordinary. How should those blush, who are com 
tinually whining about the little inconveniences and privations 
of common life 1 Lisa remained nine months at this place. He 
returned to St. Louis, having indemnified himself for his voy¬ 
age, by considerable benefits. But he had not chosen the proper 
country, as the north side of the Missouri was much more abun¬ 
dant in furs, and of a more valuable quality. 
After the return of Lisa, the favorable reports which he 
made, induced a number of gentlemen to turn their attention to 
this trade, and in a short time a company was formed under the 
name of “ the Missouri Fur Company;’’ of this association Lisa 
became a member, and has been one of the most active and use¬ 
ful. The company was composed of ten persons ; but the capi¬ 
tal was greatly inadequate, not exceeding forty thousand dollars. 
Having collected about two hundred and fifty men, they ascend¬ 
ed the Missouri; left trading establishments with the Sioux, the 
Arikaras, and Mandans, but the principal part proceeded to the 
three forks of the Missouri, the country most abounding in bea¬ 
ver, for their intention was to hunt as well as trade, and the great¬ 
er number of the men were hunters. But they had not been 
long here until they found their hopes entirely frustrated by the 
hostilities of the Black-feet Indians, a numerous tribe, who had 
unfortunately been rendered inimical to the Americans by an 
unlucky affair, in which Lewis and Clark, on their return, had 
killed two or three of their nation; besides, probably instigated 
by the jealousy of the British companies. A party of fifteen or 
twenty American hunters were attacked by surprise, and nine 
killed. The greatest precaution was found necessary in going 
opt to hunt, they were at length so much harassed by the sava- 
