108 PICTOGRAPHS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. 



There are two wholly distinct tribes called by the Canadians Gros 

 Ventres. One, known also as Hidatsa and Minuetari, is classed in the 

 Siouan family, and numbered, in 1804, according to Lewis and Clarke, 

 2,500 souls. The other "Big Bellies," properly called Atsina, are the 

 northern division of the Arapahos, an Algonkin tribe, from which they 

 separated in the early part of this century, and, wandering eastward, 

 met the Dakotas, by whom they were driven off to the north. It is 

 probable that this is the conflict recorded, though the Dakotas have 

 also often been at feud with their linguistic cousins, the Minuetari. 



No. III. Twenty of the Gros Ventres killed by Dakotas in a dirt lodge. 

 They were chased into a deserted Bee dirt lodge and killed there. 



Mato Sapasays: Twenty Gros Ventres were killed by the Dakotas in 

 a dirt lodge. In this record there is a circle with only one head. 



Major Bush's interpretation is the same as the last. 



1812-'13. — No. I. Many wild horses caught. 



No. II. The wild horses were first run and caught by the Dakotas. 

 The device is a lasso. The date is of value, as showing when the 

 herds of prairie horses, descended from those animals introduced by the 

 Spaniards in Mexico, or those deposited by them on the shores of Texas 

 and at other points, had multiplied so as to extend into the far northern 

 regions. The Dakotas undoubtedly learned the use of the horse and 

 perhaps also that of the lasso from southern tribes, with whom they were 

 in contact; and it is noteworthy that notwithstanding the tenacity with 

 which they generally adhere to ancient customs, in only two generations 

 since they became familiar with the horse they have been so revolution- 

 ized in their habits as to be utterly helpless, both in war and the chase, 

 when deprived of that animal. 



No. III. Dakotas first used lariat (sic) for catching wild horses. 



Battiste Good says for the preceding year, 1811-'12: "First-kunted- 

 horses winter." He adds: "The Dakotas caught wild horses in the 

 sand hills with braided lariats." 



Amtrican-Horse also, forl811-'12, says: They caught many wild horses 

 south of the Platte River. 



White-Cow-Killer calls 1811-'12 " Catching-wild-horses winter." 



Major Bush says: Dakotas first made use of lariat in catching wild 

 horses. 



1S13-14 — No. I. Many Indians died of cold (consumption). 



No. II. The whooping-cough was very prevalent and fatal. The sign 

 is ludicrously suggestive of a blast of air coughed out by the man-figure. 



No. III. Dakotas had whooping-cough, very fatal. 



The interruption in the cough is curiously designed. An attempt at 

 the same thing is made in Chart 1, and a less marked attempt appears 

 in No. II. 



ISH-'lo— No. I. Hunchback, a Brule, killed by Utes. 



No. II. A Dakota killed an Arapaho in his lodge. The device repre- 



