pound; ten-ccut calico at one dollar a yard; at one dollar a gallon, and higher. corn at seventy-five cents a

In 1847 a law was passed by Congress forbidding the intro- duction of whiskey into the Indian country, and even the par tial enforcement of this law had a most lappy effect. Fore- most among those to acknowledge the bencfits of it were the traders themselves, who said that the Indians demand for sub- stantial articles of trade was augmented two handred per cent.: "They enjoy much better health, look much botter, and are bet- rarely ever hear of a murder com plenty in that country murder was a daily occurrence." These Indians themselves were said to be "opposed to the introduction of ardent spirits into their country;* * * but, like almost all other Indians, will use it if you give it to them, and when under its indnence are dan There were at this time nearly forty Five bands of ter pcople. * * You now mitted, whereas when whiskey was gerons and troublesome." six thousand of these Upper Missouri Indians. them"the Siox, Cheyennes, Gros Ventres, Mandans, and Pon- cas"were "excellent Indians, devotedly attached to the white man," living "in peace and friendship with our Government," and "entitled to tho special favor and good opinion of the De- partment for their uniform good conduct and pacific relations."

In 1848 it was estimated from the returns made by traders 21 that the trade of this agency amounted to $400,000. Arnong the iterns were 25,000 buffalo tongnes. In conscquence of this prosperity on the part of the Indians, there was a partial ccs- sation of hostilitics on the whites; but it was still a perilous journey to cross the plains, and in 1849 the necessity for mak ing some sort of treaty stipulations with all these wild tribes begins to be foroed emphatically upon the attention of the Unitcd States Gorernment. A safe highway across the conti- nent must be opened. It is a noticeable thing, however, that, even as late as this in the history of our diplomatic relations with the Indian, his right to a certain control as well as occu