"Early Fur Trade on the Northern Plains presents a lengthy introduction plus a unique combination of five journals, or portions of journals, of North West Company and Hudson's Bay Company traders who left records of their travels to the country of the village-dwelling Mandan and Hidatsas along the Missouri River of North Dakota. . . . In addition to a history of events, Indian-trader relationships, and trader competition, the editors synthesize data on a number of topics, including lists of resident traders in the villages, the time required to travel between the Assiniboine River posts and the villages, trade commodities, and rates of exchange for items such as beaver skins and horses. . . . A unique and invaluable collection."--Pacific Historical Review presents a lengthy introduction plus a unique combination of five journals, or portions of journals, of North West Company and Hudson's Bay Company traders who left records of their travels to the country of the village-dwelling Mandan and Hidatsas along the Missouri River of North Dakota. . . . In addition to a history of events, Indian-trader relationships, and trader competition, the editors synthesize data on a number of topics, including lists of resident traders in the villages, the time required to travel between the Assiniboine River posts and the villages, trade commodities, and rates of exchange for items such as beaver skins and horses. . . . A unique and invaluable collection."--Pacific Historical Review