Fort Kanses.—Sometime in the first half of the 18th century the French established a trading post at the Kansa village, a little below Isle an Vache, or Cow island, in what is now Atchison county, and this was probably the first post in Kansas where white men lived as permanent settlers. Bougainville, writing of the French posts, in 1757, said: "In ascending this stream (the Missouri) we meet the village of the Kanses. We have there a garrison with a commandant, appointed, as is the case with Pimiteoui and Fort Chartres, by New Orleans. This post produces 100 bundles of furs."

When it is known that a "bundle" of furs was equal to 100 otter, wolf or badger skins, or 500 mink or muskrat skins, it will be seen that the trade at this old post was considerable. Like all the establishments engaged in the fur trade of that period, it was probably in the hands of some licensed trader, a favorite of the governor-general of Canada. The ruins of this old fort were still to be seen at the beginning of the 19th century. Lewis and Clark's journal for July 2, 1804, shows this entry:

"Opposite our camp is a valley, in which was situated an old village of the Kansas, between two high points of land, on the bank of the river. About a mile in the rear of the village was a small fort, built by the French on an elevation. There are now no traces of the village, but the situation of the fort may he recognized by some remnants of chimneys, and the general outlines of the fortification, as well as by the fine spring which supplied it with water. The party who were stationed here were probably cut off by Indians, as there are no accounts of them." (Cones' Edition, p. 37.)