SOURCE OP ST. Peter's river. 383 



population of the Sioux nation cannot be under twenty- 

 five thousand souls, and that it includes at least six thou- 

 sand warriors. 



The following synopsis of the usual residence of the Da- 

 cotas, and of the actual state of the villages or parties above 

 alluded to, may be of use as a term of comparison for future 

 travellers. 



1. Keoxa. Their chief is Wapasha ; they have two vil- 

 lages on the Mississippi, (one on lawa river, the other near 

 Lake Pepin ;) they hunt on both banks of the Mississippi, 

 near Chippewa river and its tributaries. The chief holds 

 his situation by hereditary tenure ; his father was a great 

 warrior ; the present chief is a wise man, addicted to agri- 

 culture. Keoxa signifies " relationship overlooked," be- 

 cause they unite or have connexion between nearer rela- 

 tions than the other Dacotas ; first cousins, uncles and 

 nieces, and even brothers and sisters intermarry. 



2. Eanbosandata means " vertical rock," from a rock 

 on Cannon River. Their chief is Shakea, who has always 

 been considered as dependent upon Wapasha ; he rose to 

 his station by military talents. They have two small vil- 

 lages, one on the Mississippi, the other on Cannon river ; 

 they hunt on the head waters of that stream. 



3. Kapoja, means "light;" they are supposed to be 

 more active than the other Dacotas. Their present chief 

 is a very distinguished man, and belongs to one of the 

 oldest families of chiefs among the Dacotas, he being the 

 fourth of his family in direct line. At a meeting of many 

 Indian nations, which took place at Lake Travers about 

 four or five years ago, there were present, besides some 

 men from all the tribes of Dacotas, many from the Assini- 

 boins, Mandans, Minnetarees, lawas, and other nations, 

 who all addressed him by the name of " Father," acknow- 



