Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-12-09
HUGE INDUSTRY
OF EARLY DAYS
TRADING WITH REDS IN NORTH
WEST MADE FORTUNES
FOR WHITES
Huge Profits Were Made In a Com
parativeIy Short Time by Great Fur
Companies and Individuals; Money
Not Used as Medium of Exchange.

Z AAA&1kf years anu uf1tu the
wholesale destruction Of the buff
falO, huge profits were made from
! the Indian trade, and fortunes ac-
cumulated In a comparatively short
4 time, by the great fur companies,
/ and by individual traders. How this
/ trade was carried on, is largely a
matter of conjecture to the many,
who do not have access to large
libraries.
Col Henry Inman, a regular army
officer, and a friend of Buffalo Bill,
in his interesting work entitled: 1.-THE
Old Santa Fe Trail" has given an ac-
count Of the manner in which this
business was conducted having gained
his knowledge of the subject from old
traders with whom he came in contact,
while serving at army posts.
Money, 1t seems was not used as a
medium of exchange, barter taking its
place. The Indians knew nothing of
money, or its value. At first, when they
CHANGED upon coin, they Immediately
put it to use for decorative purposes,
in necklace or earring.
Among the eastern tribes, and also
one southwestern, shells served as
money. Washington Irving, In his anus
ing History Of New York, tells how the
early traders of Connecticut, depleted
the treasury of its Dutch rulers, by
demanding cash for what they sold,
and paying in wampum-the Indian
shell money-for what they bought. In
dian traders were quite as cunning.
They did not handle wampum money,
but saw to it that the goods exchanged
for ftrs and skins did not have bar
gain-day prices. Indians were as ig-
norant regarding the value of goods,
as they were Of money, a fact the
traders soon discovered, and of which
they were not slow to take advantage
The various trading posts were built
after the same general plan, although
some were much larger than others,
and there were few which had no
appearance of a fort. Small cannofs
were placed at two diagonal corners to |
command the interior of the post, and |
the gate by which admission was gained |
to the store Of the trader, was strongly !
built, and opened to admit but a few |
Indians at time.
All the works on the fur trade of
this continent tell of the sending of
goods TO the different posts, and what |
these were is also described, First of /
all came whisky, or whatever alcoholic
mixture went by that name. There was
. constant demand for this among the
tribes, with the sole exception Of the
Crows, who were, for a time, strict
orohtbitiOnists. Next to whisky, fire
arms and ammunition were desired.
and with the best of reasons. The In
1ians who did not own them were at
he mercy Of those who did. Then there
we're snowy trtnkets and gaudy prints,
.tc., which would appeal to these chill
iren OF nature, and other trading goods
90 numerous TO mention.
For these the purchasers exchanged
Ieert4 Frr4ac h.
rice of what was bought, and also that
which was sold. Sometimes before the
indian came to the post to trade, it
5 said the trader collected a quantity
small sticks each representing some
rttcle he had for exchange, to be used
S q measure of value. When the In
ians arrived, the gate of the post
wung open until small number had
Inferred the enclosure, when it was
gain barred, until those within made
1eir exit, and another band was adj
lifted.
One can fancy the Indians entering
ne enclosure, the squaws shambling
long, loaded down with robes and furS,
ON the sale OF which they hoped for
.rge returns, in the way Of pots and
wing pans, sugar, coffee aud bacon,
nd articles for their own adornment
heir men, who accompanied them. car
ring themselves in the naughty man
er peculiar TO Indians, and which the
erabers of no other race can ap-
roach. These stalk on towards the
aiding room, apparently obIivious to
! about them, but nothing escapes
leir sharp black eyes, They are ac-
lStomed TO see, without betraying
leir curiosity to the casual onlooker.
the warriors have no desire for ket-
Is and the like, although they are
lite willing to share In the trinkets.
-ince Macmillan, 1t viii be remem-
red. was astonished TO find Indian
en- more vain than the squaws. Their
.st thought is Of the coveted fire.
ater, and next to that of gums and
nnunition. Their own wants satisfied
ey are quite willing the women should
" what they choose.
In, or near the store, a robe Is spread
the ground before the trader, who
anaines 1T with an experienced eye.
d then lays on 1t the sticks he has
eu@red TO indicate the articles to-
tier with their number, he Is willing
aape for II.
Tsna indians understand the Language