Page:Archæologia Americana—volume 2, 1836.djvu/168

 132 A SYNOPSIS OF THE INDIAN TRIBES. [lNTROD. It may be added, in reference to the Missouri Indians, that the animal sacrifice of a prisoner, a practice which prevailed amongst the Pawnees, and was lately abolished by the coura- uihhis exertions of a celebrated chief, affords an additional proof of the comparatively humane manner in which prisoners were generally treated by them. Two wandering and purely hunting nations, the Fall, Rap- id, or Paunch Indians, improperly called Minetares of the Prairie, and the Black Feet, have their principal seats on the south fork of the Saskachawin. Their hunting-grounds ex- tend as far south, as the sources of the Yellowstone River and of its various tributary streams. The Rapid Indians are the most easterly tribe, and are more generally found between the Saskachawin and the Missouri in the vicinity of and above the Mandane village. They have about three hundred lodges, and are estimated at three thousand souls. The Arrapahoes (or Arrapahays) are a detached tribe of that nation, which has late- ly wandered as far south as the river Platte and the Arkansa, where they formed a temporary union with the Kaskaias (or Kaskayas) and some other erratic tribes. Although intimately connected with the Black Feet, they speak a distinct language. The Black Feet are one of the most powerful Indian na- tions known to us. Their lodges are estimated at two thou- sand five hundred, and their population at thirty thousand. They occupy, as hunting-grounds, the whole territory west of the Minetares and of the one hundred and third degree of west longitude to the Rocky Mountains, and extending from the fifty-second to the forty-second degree of north latitude. They carry on a perpetual war against the Flat Heads, the Shoshonees, and other tribes of the Rocky Mountains, whom they confine within the mountains, and prevent from hunting in the buffalo country. They are always at war with the Crows and other Minetares ; but they appear to act on the the most strict veracity and integrity, who during his youth had resided amongst them, and is said to have spoken the language as a native. I regret that, during an intimacy of seventeen years, not having at that time turned my attention to the subject, I neglected so favorable an opportunity of obtaining the most correct information respecting the language of that tribe.