OCR Text |
Show 60 Lewis and Clarke's ~~11editiou h d their ncoks. 'rhey lmve on1y a few fowlint; togel cr roun . • b · encrally armed with bows and arrows, In pteces, etng g b . J however they do not allllear as expert as the more W IC l, ' , • • I I d·1 a118 'Nhat stt·uck us most was an msbtuhon, nort1ern n · 1 . to them aml to the Kite Indians, further to the pecu 1ar ' · I · '\Yestward, from whom it is said to have been co1ned. t 11 an ass()ciation of the most active and brave young men, who are bound to each oUter by attachment. secured by a vow, never to retreat before any danger, or give way to their cne· mies. In war they go forward without sheltering themselves behind trees, or aiding their natural valour by any artifice. 'l'his punctilious determination, not to be turned from their course, became heroic, or ridiculous, a sbor~ time since, w ben the Yank tons were crossing the Misso~rt on the ice. A hole lay immelliatcly in their cout·se, whlClt might easily have been avoided, by going round. ~'his the foremost of the band disdained to do; but went stra1ght forward, and was lost. The others would have followed his example, but were forcibly prevented by the rest of the tribe. These young men sit, and encamil, and dance toge· tber, distinct from the rest of the nation: they are generally about thirty or thirty.five years old; and such is the defer· ence pahl to courage, that their seats in council are supe· rior to those of the chiefs, and theh· persons more respect· ed. But, as may be SU}lposed, such indiscreet bravery will soon diminish the numbers of those who practise it; so that the band is now reduced to fom• warriors, who were among our visitors. 1.'hese were the remains of twenty-two, who composetl the society not long ago; but, in a battle with the Kite Indians, of the Black Mountains, eightl'en of them were killed, and these four were dragged from the field by their companions. Whilst these Indians remained with us we made very minute inquiries relative to their situation and nutnbers, and trade. and manners. This we did very satisfactorily,,by meaas of two dift'erent interpreters; and from their accounts, Up the Jtliasouri. 61 joined to oul' interviews with other bands of the same nation. and much intelligl'nce aequired since, we were enabled to understand, with some accuracy, the condition of the Sioux hitl1erto so Jittle known. The Sioux, or Dacorta Indians, originally settled on the }lississippi. and called by Carver, .Madowcsians, nre now suhdividt.d into tribes, as follow: Fh·st, The Yanktons: thh tribe inhabits the Sioux Dl'smoines, and Jacques rivers, and number about two hun~ dred wal'r·iors. Second, The Tetons of the burnt woods. This tribe numbers about three hundred men, who rove on hoth sides of the Missouri, the White, and Teton rivers. '!'bird, The Tetons Okandandas, a tribe consisting of about one hundred and fifty men, who inhabit both sides of the Missouri below the Chayenne river. • Fourth, Tetons 1\-lionakenozzo, anation inhabiting bo•h s1des of the Missouri, above the Chayenne river, and containing about two hundred and fifty men. Fifth, Tctons Saone; these inhabit both sides of the 1\Iis .. souri below the Warreconne rh•er, and consist of about three hundred men. Sixth, Yank tons of the Plains, or Big Devils; who rove on the beads of the Sioux, Jacques, and Red river; the most numerous of all the tribes, and number about five hundred men. Seventh, Wahpatone; a nation residing on the St. Petm ·'s, just above the mouth of that rive1·, and numbering two hund1·ed men. Eighth, Mindawarca.rton, OJ' proper Dacorta or Sioux Indians. 'l'hese possess the original scat of' the Sioux, and are properly so denominated. They rove on both sides of the Mississippi, about the falls of St. Anthony, and consist of three hundred men. Ninth, The Wahpatoota, or Leaf Beds. This nation inhabits both sides of t.hc river St. Peter's, below Yellow |