INDIANS. 189 



cording to Maj. Marston, are poor, indolent, and filthy in their 

 persons. They have the hatred of their white neighbors, 

 who suspect them of taking their hogs, and, whether with 

 or without cause, have fixed upon them the imputation of 

 pilfering. They are on very good terms with the Dahcotahs, 

 and of course fear not to be drawn into a quarrel w^th any of 

 their neighbors. 



The Potawatamis, though living at a distance from the 

 whites, have less of the Indian characteristic than most of the 

 other tribes. They are peaceably disposed, domestic in their 

 habits, and some of them clothe themselves in the manner 

 of the whites, especially the half-breeds. 



The lowas formerly inhabited a part of the country between 

 the two rivers. They have now gone over the Missouri. 

 They call themselves, as stated by Mr. Marston and others, 

 I-ho-wa. They have a bad character. To questions put by 

 Maj. Marston to the Sauks and Foxes, they answered that 

 they were in alliance with the lowas ; stating, as a reason for 

 it, that they were a bad people, and it was better to have their 

 friendship than their enmity. The answer shows that the 

 Sauks are, in their politics at least, very much like some 

 other politicians that we know of. 



In the Indian character generally there is the like diversity 

 as among the whites. There are, however, some traits that 

 are prevalent not only in tribes and nations, but which appear 

 to belong to the red man wherever he is found, from the 

 mouth of the St. Lawrence to the Rocky Mountains, and from 

 the Gulf to lat. 49°. I believe it is common to them all to 

 make the performance of their promise depend upon con- 

 venience and interest. This may be regarded as an Indian 

 trait : though there are many of them who are faithful to their 

 promises, under all circumstances, even to death. 



The stories of Winona and of Ampato Sapa show that the 



