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Articles of Agreement made and concluded at New York, in the State of New York, this 26th day of February AD 1842, by and between Pierre Chouteau Junior & Co. of Saint Louis in the State of Missouri, of the first part, and Hercules L. Dausman of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and Henry H. Sibley of St. Peters, Iowa, parties of the second part-- Witnesseth: Article 1st. The parties hereto mutually consent and agree by these presents to enter into an agreement to carry on their joint account, the trade with Indians and Whites now presented by the American Fur Company of New York, in connection with Joseph Rolette, and the said Dousman and Sibley, under the name and Style of "Western Outfit," which said trade so carried on with cease by elimination of contract, on the 1st August next, (1842). The name and style of the business contemplates by the present agreement shall be "Upper Mississippi Outfit," and shall embrace all the trade with whites and Indians, on the Mississippi River and its tributary waters above Dubuque mines. And in no case shall the parties of the first part interfere directly on indirectly with the business of Upper Mississippi Outfit, by furnishing goods to other persons to trade within the limits of country contemplated by the agreement.

Article 2nd The said Pierre Chouteau Junior & Co. parties of the first part, shall furnish all the goods, wares, merchandize & other means necessary for the proper & due procation? of the trade contemplated by the Agreement. As part of the supply for the first year, the Outfit shall take to account such of the goods, property & effects belonging to "Western Outfit" of the American Fur Company aforesaid, as the parties hereto shall agree upon, in case they can be purchased by said party of the first part from said Company at a fair valuation, and such other goods as shall be required to complete the assortment, shall be furnished as aforesaid by the said parties of the first part. The Goods shall be charged to the Outfie at their actual cost & charges thereon until they are forwarded from St. Louis, and said parties of the first part shall be entitled to charge a commission of five per cent thereon, that is to say upon said goods & charges upon said goods, but no commission shall be charged upon the Inventions which may be taken to account as aforesaid, nor any other disbursements on account of said Outfit. Interest whenever due, shall be charged and allowed? by said parties of the first part, at the rate of seven per cent per annum.

Article 3d. The parties of the second part, hereby agree & engage to receive the means amt property so to be provided by said parties of the first part - to exert