George Croghan and the Westward Movement, 1741-1782 - The Indian Trader #226035

If the trade in furs and skins is looked at from the point of View of the uncivilized native who could furnish peltry and hides, one findsi equally strong economic forces influencing his conduct. In his esti mation of values, based upon the laws of supply and demand, the exchange of a fine beaver pelt for a sharp knife was a great bargain and gave him as much satis faction as it did to the more civilized trader. The mutual immense profits of the trade in furs and skins and other irresistible economic forces involved, led both savages and civilized men to desire to establish and maintain trading relations in spite of the heavy risks to life and property to all concerned in such trade.