POLITICAL DIVISIONS, &C.—BOOK II. 113 
&re chiefly of French origin; there were scarcely more than 
three or four Spanish families in this province, and the citizens 
of the United States, although advantageous offers were held 
out to them, rarely settled on this side of the river. The French 
inhabitants resided in villages, and cultivated common fields ad™ 
jacent to them ; in the manner of many parts of Europe: it was 
here, also, rendered in some degree necessary from their situ¬ 
ation. There were always good reasons to apprehend the attacks 
of Indians; of which, on some occasions, they had a fatal experi¬ 
ence. The small number of Americans settled here, is also ow¬ 
ing to the tide of emigration having set in for the western states. 
Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee, were yet unpeopled. Besides, 
until it was transferred to the United States, there was no secu¬ 
rity against the depredations of Indians. 
For these three last years, the settlements have been increas¬ 
ing rapidly. The American mode, of living on detached farms, 
has been adopted by a number of the French inhabitants of vil¬ 
lages, and the settlements, in larger or smaller groups. 
The frontier, at least below the Missouri, may be said to have 
retired, sixty miles west of the Mississippi, and the settlements 
on the rivers, are perfectly safe from the attacks of a Savage ene¬ 
my, should any be apprehended. Within the last two years, farms 
have been opened, from the Missouri to the Arkansas, on thC 
Mississippi; and on this river, above the Missouri, they extend, 
at distant intervals, to the Praiiie du Chien.* On the Missouri, 
they extend upwards of two hundred miles from the mouth of 
the river. Near Fort Clark, there are a few farms, which ha VO 
lately been opened. 
Next to the banks of the navigable rivers, the public roads, 
form the greatest inducement for making Settlements. There 
are consequently establishments on nearly all the roads which 
traverse the territory; seldom at a greater distance than five or 
six miles from each other. 
* In case of Indian war, these remote and feeble settlements will 
have to be broken up. But there is very little to be apprehended from 
incursions into the more populous parts of the territory south of the 
Missouri. This is as secure as the interior of Kentuckj^. 
t 
