Page:A Topographical Description of the State of Ohio, Indiana Territory, and Louisiana.djvu/146

136 furred animals. They are rovers, and have no idea of exclusive right to the soil.

The Assinniboin nation consists of three bands, who, like the bands of the Sioux, are entirely independent, one of the other; they claim a national affinity, and never go to war with each other. They are the descendants of the Sioux, and partake of their turbulent and faithless disposition; frequently plundering, and sometimes murdering their own traders. The name by which this nation is generally known, was borrowed from the Chippeways, who call them Assinniboin, which signifies Stone Sioux, and are sometimes called Stone Indians.

Manetopa band, or Gens des Canoe, live on Mouse river, between the Assinniboin and the Missouri. They have two hundred warriors, and seven hundred and fifty souls. They do not cultivate; but dispose of buffaloe robes, tallow, dried and pounded mint, and grease, skins of the large and small fox, small and large wolves, antelopes, or cabree, and elk in great abundance; some brown, white, and grizzly bear, deer and lynx.

Oseegah band, or Gens des Tee, consist of two hundred and fifty warriors, and eight hundred and fifty people; reside about the mouth of the Little Missouri, and on the Assinniboin, at the mouth of Lapelle river. These people do nothing at cultivation, although the country in which they rove is tolerably fertile, open, and free of stone. They traffic in buffaloe meat, dried and