VIEWS OF LOUISIANA. 
M 
with nations on the Mississippi, or on the Missouri, as high as the*, 
Mahas, There are tew of the Indian tribes who hunt; they 
have hitherto had little encouragement; and besides, the con¬ 
tinual wars which prevail amongst them, renders it impractica¬ 
ble. 
A well regulated company, with sufficient capital, would in a 
very short time draw immense profits from the Indian trade of 
the Mississippi and Missouri. A very great proportion of the 
North West Company’s trade, would find its way down those ri¬ 
vers. The city of New York is highly interested; its situation 
may render it the rival of Montreal in this trade; the climate of 
New Orleans is unfavourable to furs and peltries. Near the 
heads of all the western rivers, tributary to the Mississippi and 
Missouri, there are immense numbers of the beaver, muskrat* 
otter, and other furred animals. An extensive company, well es¬ 
tablished. might count upon a thousand packs annually, besides a 
vast number of buffaloe robes, which will be found of much use 
in the slave states, as a cheap and comfortable bedding for ne¬ 
groes. The buffaloe would furnish other articles of trade, wool, 
horns, tongues, Sec. which would also be considerable. Wolf, 
bear, elk, and deer skins, might be had in immense quantities. 
It requires no gift of prophecy to tell, that such a company will 
not be long in forming. Should Canada, in the present struggle^ 
be wrested from Britain, it would be immediately established. 
The establishment of factories by the United States, in the In¬ 
dian country, have had good effects where they are accompanied 
by forts, with a small number of soldiers; they keep those nations 
in awe, and enable the traders or hunters to traverse the coun¬ 
try in security. The factory highest on the Missouri, is at fort 
0;?age, three hundred miles from its entrance: two more might 
be established advantageously on this river; one at the Council 
Bluffs, and another at the little Cedar island. 
