He therefore turned towards the west, penetrated into the interior of the mountains, and took a considerable sweep through the lovely valleys on their western slopes.
The expedition which this enterprising fur-trader was conducting was one of the first that ever penetrated these wild regions in search of furs.

The ground over which they travelled was quite new to them, and having no guide they just moved about at haphazard, encamping on the margin of every stream or river on which signs of the presence of beaver were discovered, and setting their traps.
Beaver skins at this time were worth 25s.

a-piece in the markets of civilized lands, and in the Snake country, through which our friends were travelling, thousands of them were to be had from the Indians for trinkets and baubles that were scarce worth a farthing.

A beaver skin could be procured from the Indians for a brass finger-ring or a penny looking-glass.

Horses were also so numerous that one could be procured for an axe or a knife.
Let not the reader, however, hastily conclude that the traders cheated the Indians in this traffic, though the profits were so enormous.