.OTM3.NTgzNTU

53

Ever they could find good hunting and trapping. that winter the furs had become very valuable, Such as the Otter beaver and ink, and our house was very anxious to buy all they could get, as well as to collect the accounts due. the opposition house was on the alert for the same reasons; and by following them up, we was Enabled to collect up a great many of the doubtful accounts in furs.

I would scarcely ever find more than five or Six unclear=E=ups, together containing same number of familys, with about, ten or a dozen hunters and trappers.

I was well prepaired for the occasion, with buffalo robe and blankets and mounted a "pony," and led a pack horse, and started from our Store on the East bank of DesMoin river, opposite what was then called "First DesMoines," and struck