and four voyageurs and he went overland to Grande Lisiere (Bear Lakes). He took eleven horses with him.

        There are many letters in the Historical Society from Grande Lisiere. Joe wrote only in French and he used Indians as mail carriers. Here is a translation of one written on Oct. 13, 1833. It was addressed to Bailly, the fur factor.

Monsieur:

        This little Indian wishes to go hunting in the spring. I beg of you to give him sixteen rat traps. He has given me at least six hundred fifty rats in a month. His name is Cha-hee-deak, son of Little Fever.

                                                        Jos Laframboise

The next letter was sent Feb. 4th, 1834, and was also in French. Translated it reads:
                                    Grande Lisiere, Feb. 4, 1834
Monsieur:

        I received your letter of November 15th, and the goods. I had ordered five sacks of wheat, but received only two. I beg of you to send me two horses. I have about eight packs of rats in the warehouse—also sixty otters. Please send me 60 pounds of sugar and one pound of tea. I am sending you a broken pick axe and a hoe to be repaired. I also send you back the box of cartridges—they are too big for my gun. I have sold a three-point blanket to myself for a hundred and twenty rats.
                                                        Your friend,
                                                            Joe Laframboise

Sibley was in charge of the main post at Mendota when the next letter was written.
                                                Grande Lisiere
                                                October 26, 1834
Monsieur:

        I send you by Humerce (a voyageur) seven thou-
sand, two hundred rats, six sacks and two bales. I have

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no more of the red rock (pipestone) because my crow bar is broken. I have no more in my shop. That is all I have made this autumn.

        All the Indians have left for the Missouri. Joe Rock is going with them. As you told me to prevent him hunting, it is too bad. He has lost nine of my traps. if you will make him pay, it will do me a great favor. He has killed seven hundred, twenty six rats and five minks. I have found a yoke of oxen on the nearby prairie, monsieur, and no owner has been found for them. I think I shall have to kill them, as they are not worth their keep. They have eaten up all my hay and I must have a man to look after them all the time.

        I am sending you Jibeau, as you recommended last summer. He wishes to have one hundred bunches of wampum, a green blanket, a red belt, an ornamental, and a pair of wrist bands. You can give them to him and charge to my account. He has eight hundred rats in my warehouse here. Nothing new to tell you. Please accept the small gift I am sending. I expect to hear news from you.
                                                        Your friend,
                                                            Joe Laframboise

Laframboise was hired the next year at an increase of $100.00.

        The items charged to Laframboise's personal account during the period he was stationed at Grande Lisiere are not without interest. So extravagant were his purchases in 1835 that he ended the year owing the company $130.23. Here are a few things he bought during the year: leggings, French prints, ear bobs, indelible ink, shirts, hose pumps, compass, fancy soap, seidlitz powders, drum of figs, box raisins, loaf sugar, moccasin smoothing iron, frock coat, sperm candles, dried apples, snuffers and a table cover.

        The following year Laframboise had a balance due him of $19.01. During this year he bought a Spanish dagger, carriage whip, dressed dolls and toys, porter, palm leaf hat and a medicine chest, the last costing $42.00.

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