Page:A Topographical Description of the State of Ohio, Indiana Territory, and Louisiana.djvu/142

132 hills are precipitated into the river. On this account the waters of the Missouri have a purgative effect on those who are not accustomed to use them. These four bands are the pirates of the Missouri, and considered the vilest miscreants of the savage race. They receive their regular supply of merchandise from the river Saint Peters, and treat the traders on the Missouri with the utmost contempt, whom they never fail to plunder, when it is in their power. Supplication, or submission renders them the more rapacious. They say, the worse they treat the traders, the more merchandise they will bring them, and will dispose of their articles on the better terms.

The Chyennes, la Chien Indians are the remnant of a nation once respectable for their numbers; formerly resided on a branch of Red river of Lake Winnipie, which still is called la Chieon, or Dog river. Oppressed by the Sioux, they removed to the west side of the Missouri, about fifteen miles below the mouth of Warricunne creek, where they built and fortified a village, but being pursued by their ancient enemies, the Sioux, they fled to the Black Hills, about the head of Chien river, where they wander in quest of the buffaloe, having no fixed residence. Their number of warriors is computed to be about three hundred, and about twelve hundred souls. They do not cultivate, but bring to market buffaloe