Page:A Topographical Description of the State of Ohio, Indiana Territory, and Louisiana.djvu/221

 APPENDIX. an historical sketch has been given of the Indian nations, within what is considered the limits of Louisiana, on the western side of the river Mississippi, it is presumed that some account of the natives residing west of the Alleghany mountains, and in the vicinity of the lakes, would be acceptable. The following is given from the best materials the writer was able to procure. To ascertain the numbers of each nation, with any great degree of precision, is impracticable. They are taken principally from former estimates, since which individual nations have doubtless considerably varied in number, Since the close of the American revolutionary war, some of the nations have increased in population, while others have diminished. Mr. Imlay, in his history of Kentucky, estimates the whole number of Indians, from the gulph of Mexico, on both sides the Mississippi, to its head waters, to the gulph of Saint Lawrence; and as far west as the country has been explored, between the Missouri and Saint a Fè; to be only 60,000 souls. This estimation must be much less than their real number. Mr. Purcell, who resided among the Indians, computes only the Creeks, Chacktaws, Chickasaws, Cherokees, and Catabaws, in the year 1780, to consist of 13,516 warriors, and 42,033 souls. The roving life and frequent migrations of the natives, increase the difficulty of ascertaining the number of particular nations. Tribes and small bands often separate from their nation, and form confederacies with others, or find some new place of residence. After the establishment of peace by General Wayne, at Greenville, in 1795, at which time large tracts of land were ceded to the United States, nearly all the Indians who resided on the lands, to which 18