Out in the West, where many Indians live, there are white men who go
among them to trade for furs and skins of animals.
These furs and skins are collected and prepared by the Indians, and
serve the purpose of money when the traders visit them to dispose of
various kinds of goods.
In old times, before the white men came to this country, the Indians had
only bows and arrows, and spears with which to hunt.
But the white men soon taught them to use guns, and to-day, nearly all
the tribes in America are well supplied with rifles or shotguns.
They are very expert with these fire-arms, and as they use them a great
deal, must have a large and constant supply of gunpowder.
A story is told of how, at one time, a tribe of Indians tried to raise
gunpowder by planting seed. This shows how little they knew of civilized
life and habits.
A trader went to a certain Indian nation to dispose of a stock of goods.
Among other things he had a quantity of gunpowder.
The Indians traded for his cloths, hats, axes, beads, and other things,
but would not take the powder, saying: "We do not wish for the powder;
we have plenty.
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