406 TRIBES OP THE UPPER MISSOURI Ieth.ann.4o 



to southwest, and the Crows, Cree, and Assiniboin west and north. It 

 is reasonable to believe they spread out over these immense plains 

 from all points and at different times as circumstances favored or 

 forced them. The habits of the prairie Indian differ essentially 

 from the Indian of the forest, and those of stationary and cultivating 

 habits from both. It is impossible for us now to state with any 

 degree of certainty the time of their first location on these plains, 

 or to point out any one general course of emigration pursued by 

 them. 



Geography 



Figure of the Globe. — It can not be expected that these Indians 

 who are in a complete savage and unenlightened state should have 

 any knowledge of the configuration of the globe or of its natural 

 divisions. They know what a small lake or small island is and have 

 names for the same as they are to be met with through their country. 

 They think the earth to be a great plain bounded by the Rocky 

 Mountains on one side and the sea on the other, but have no idea 

 of its extent nor of any other lands except those they are acquainted 

 with. Although told frequently, they can not realize extent of lands 

 in any great measure, and without troubling themselves to think or 

 inquire are content with believing there are few lands better or 

 larger than their own. It is not in their nature to acknowledge in- 

 feriority, which would follow were they convinced of the extent of 

 the territory and power of the whites. Of the sea they have a vague 

 idea from information offered them by the traders, and would not 

 believe there is such a body of water had not the same received a 

 sort of sanction through the Cree and Chippewa, some of whom, 

 having seen Lake Superior, represent it as the ocean. 



Local Features of the Habitat. — The chief rivers running 

 through the Assiniboin country are, first, the Missouri, which is so 

 well known as to need no description here. The next is Milk River, 

 on the northwest boundary, a very long and narrow stream ; heads in 

 some of the spurs of the Rocky Mountains east of the Missouri and 

 lakes on the plains, runs a southwest course, and empties into the 

 Missouri about 100 miles above the Yellowstone. Its bed is about 

 200 yards wide at the mouth, though the waters seldom occupy more 

 than one-third of that space, except during the spring thaw, when, 

 for a week or two, it fills the whole bed ; is f ordable on horseback all 

 the year except at the time above alluded to and when swollen by 

 continuous rains. 



Riviere aux Tremble, or Quaking Aspen River, empties into the 

 Missouri about 50 miles below Milk River, is about half the length 

 and breadth of the others, and heads in the range of hills constituting 

 the divide, called "Les Montaignes des Bois." It is fordable at all 



