The Santa Fe caravans have generally avoided every manner of trade with the wild Indians for fear of being treacherously dealt with during the familiar intercourse which necessarily ensues. This I am convinced is an erroneous impression; for I have always found that savages are much less hostile to those with whom they trade than to any other people. They are emphatically fond of traffic, and, being anxious to encourage the whites to come among them, instead of committing depredations upon those with whom they trade they are generally ready to defend them against every enemy.
- from page 211, Commerce of the Prairies