INDIAN NATIONS, &c.—BOOK I. 
93 
ges, as to be compelled to remain altogether at their fort, or to 
venture but a short distance from it. It is supposed that in the 
different rencounters with these savages, at least twenty of the 
whites were killed, and nearly twice that number of the others. 
Thus a most implacable enmity has been unfortunately excited? 
which will for a long time, exclude our traders and hunters, 
from that part of the western country by far the most favorable 
for their pursuits. It is supposed that had they continued unmo¬ 
lested, the company would have brought down the first year, 
three hundred packs of beaver alone* Instead of" which there 
Were scarcely twenty. The following spring a considerable 
number of the party descended the river; the remainder con¬ 
tinued until autumn, when, fearing a general attack, and finding 
the situation otherwise exceedingly irksome, Mr. Henry, one of 
the company, who now commanded the party, resolved to cross 
the mountains, and winter on some of the branches of the Co¬ 
lumbia; this he accordingly effected, but not without suffering 
every possible hardship, from hunger, cold, and fatigue. In the 
mean time, the company suffered considerable loss from the ac¬ 
cidental burning of one of their factories; this was estimated at 
fifteen thousand dollars. The establishments at the Mandans 
and Arikaras, brought no profit. In the spring of the year 1811, 
the third, and by the time fixed for the duration of the associa¬ 
tion, the last, an expedition was fitted out by the company, the 
command of which was given to Lisa, whom I accompanied. By 
his prudence and good management, the affairs of the company 
were in some measure retrieved. After remaining sometime at 
the Mandan villages, he was joined by Mr. Henry and all his par¬ 
ty, who brought about forty packs of beaver. Leaving trading 
establishments at the Mandans, Arikaras, and with the Sioux, 
he descended to St. Louis. It appeared that at the termination 
of the third year, notwithstanding all these unforeseen difficulties 
and misfortunes, the company had saved the capital, and had be¬ 
sides the establishments before mentioned. I have been inform¬ 
ed that the company has been renewed, an$ its capital consider¬ 
ably enlarged. 
Such is the present situation of the Indian trade. Besides 
the Missouri company, there are many individuals, who trade 
