SOURCE OP ST. Peter's river. 377 



listeno, as well as from all nations of the Algonquin stock. 

 They are likewise unlike the Pawnees and the Minnetarees 

 or Gros Ventres. They inhabit a large district of country 

 which may be comprised within the following limits : — 

 From Prairie du Chien on the Mississippi by a curved line 

 extending east of north, and made to include all the eastern 

 tributaries of the Mississippi, to the first branch of Chippe- 

 wa river ; the head waters of that stream being claimed by 

 the Chippewa Indians ; thence by a line running west of 

 north to the head of Spirit Lake ; thence by a westerly 

 line to the Riviere de Corbeau ; thence up that river to its 

 head near Otter-tail Lake ; thence by a westerly line to 

 Red River, and down that river to Pembina ; thence by a 

 south-westerly line to the east bank of the Missouri near 

 the Mandan villages ; thence down the Missouri* to a point 

 probably not far from Soldier's River ; thence by a line 

 running east of north to Prairie du Chien. This tract in- 

 cludes about seven degrees of latitude, viz. from the 42° 

 to the 49°, and nine of longitude, viz. from 90° 30' to 99° 

 30'. These boundaries, as well as all the subsequent facts 

 which we shall state, do not apply to the Assiniboins, a 

 revolted band of the Dacotas, who separated from them a 

 long time ago, and who reside to the north of the 49th 

 degree of latitude. We will have occasion to recur to 

 them hereafter. 



This immense extent of country is inhabited by a nation 

 calling themselves, in their internal relations, the Dicota, 

 which means the allied, but who in their external relations 

 style themselves the Och^nte Shakoaii, which signifies the 

 nation of seven, (council,) fires. This refers to the fol- 



• According to Lewis and Clarke, they hunt on both banks of the 

 Missouri and its tributaries, from the 43d to the 47th degree f f lati- 

 tude, (vol. I. p.^1.) 



Vol. L 48 



