90 



that they are increasing in numbers rather than diminishing, except 

 where they mingle with the settlements on the frontier. 



These Dakotas formerly all lived around the head waters of the 

 Mississippi and Red River of the North, and in their migration to the 

 southwest have been preceded by the IShyennes, (with wliom they are 

 on friendly terms,) who have given their name to the Shyenne of 

 Red river, to the Big Shyenne of the Missouri, and to the section of 

 country they now occupy between the Platte and the Arkansas. The 

 Dakotas then lived on much of the land now occupied by the Chip- 

 pewas, and the Chippewas at that time inhabited the region between 

 the Sault Ste. Marie and Lake Winnepeg, the Crees, their allies, 

 occupying that from Lake Winnepeg and other lakes as far as Kis-is- 

 kad-ji-wan (Saskatchawin river) and towards the Assiniboin river. 

 The plains to the south of the last stream were the scene of many 

 contentions and bloody combats, nevertheless, oftener the residence of 

 the Dakotas than of the other two tribes, until that nation was 

 divided into two bodies, originating in jealousy of the women, which 

 ended in their being irreconcilable enemies to this day. The less 

 powerful and flying party took refuge in the rocky precipices of the 

 Lake of the Woods, and received from the Chippewas the name of 

 Assiniboins or Dakotas of the Rocks, under which name they are now 

 generally known to the whites. They however retain, among them- 

 selves, the name Dakotas and speak that language. The other 

 Dakotas, in speaking of them, always call them hohe, or enemies. 



The Assiniboins then allied themselves with the Chippewas and 

 Crees and forced the Dakotas to abandon all the country north of the 

 Sheyenne, which is now regarded as the boundary between these 

 tribes. 



The Chippewas, Crees, and Assiniboins are friendly to each other 

 and united in their liostility to the Dakotas, and it is improbable that 

 any lasting peace can ever be effected between them. The common 

 war ground is the region about Lake Minniwaken to which they all 

 repair to hunt buffalo. The Assiniboins and Crees may yet occasion 

 us no little difficulty, as a large portion of their lands is in the British 

 territory, they both are now well disposed and friendly. I saw them 

 while at Fort TTnion in 1856, and they were particular to inform us 

 that they did not Avant to sell their land and could not spare any of 

 what they now occupy. 



These Indians have comparatively few horses, and rely largely 

 on dogs, of which they have great numbers, for transportation. The 

 flesh of these animals also serves them as food. The Assiniboins 

 number about 450 lodges or 3,600 souls. They suffered severely 

 from the small pox in 1856-'57. Their country extends from the 

 Red river west, along the Missouri as far as the mouth of the Milk 

 river. 



The Absarakos, or Crows, occupy the country about the Yellow- 

 stone and its branches, being bounded on the east by the Dakotas, 

 south by the Platte, and west by the dividing line between the waters 

 of the Atlantic and Pacific. 



Their country abounds with everything Indian life requires, and 



