408 TRIBES OF THE UPPER MISSOURI [eth. ann. 4c 



we find that oats, potatoes, corn, and all garden vegetables grow 

 well if the season be favorable. The soil, being light and sandy, 

 requires frequent rains to produce good crops, which happens about 

 one year in three; the others fail from drought and destruction by 

 grasshoppers, bugs, and other insects. The natural productions of 

 the country are few and such as no one but an Indian could relish. 

 A wild turnip called by them teep-see-na, and by the French pomme 

 blanche, when boiled is eatable, is found in quantity everywhere on 

 the plains, will sustain life alone for a great length of time either 

 cooked or in its raw state, can be dried and preserved for years, or 

 pulverized and made into passable bread. 



Wild rhubarb is found and eaten either raw or cooked. It has 

 rather a pleasant sweetish taste. Artichokes grow in quantites near 

 marshes. Chokecherries, bullberries, service berries, buds of the 

 wild rose, red plums, and sour grapes are the principal fruits and 

 are greatly sought after by the Indians, preserved, dried, cooked, and 

 eaten in various ways, and considered by them great luxuries. Wild 

 hops are in abundance which possess all the properties of the culti- 

 vated hop. These are all of any note the country produces. 



Facilities for Grazing. — These Indians raise no stock of any 

 kind, though judging from that raised at Fort Union it is one of the 

 best grazing countries in the world. The supply of grasses of spon- 

 taneous growth is inexhaustible and very nutritious. The only diffi- 

 culty is the severe cold winter and depth of snow, though if animals 

 were provided for and housed during the severe cold we know that 

 a hardier and better stock can be raised than in the States. As yet, 

 however, no market being open for surplus stock and but few raised 

 for the use of the fort, our attention has not been much directed to 

 that business, but have no hesitation in advancing the opinion that 

 horses, horned cattle, and sheep would thrive and increase well with 

 proper care. We are not able to say whether water could at all 

 times be had by digging on the high prairie and in the absence of 

 springs or creeks, never having tried the experiment, though the 

 country abounds in small lakes, cool springs, and creeks where good 

 localities for grazing purposes could always be chosen. In the 

 winter animals appear to want very little water and generally eat 

 snow in its place. 



Effects of Firing the Prairies. — We presume there must be 

 some mistake that any of the tribes residing on the plains set them 

 on fire to facilitate the purposes of hunting. It has the contrary 

 effect, driving the game out of their own country into that of their 

 neighbors. Buffalo may pass through a burnt country covered with 

 snow, but can not remain, and travel until they meet with suitable 

 grazing. Consequently the greatest precautions are used by both 

 Indians and whites to prevent their taking fire in the fall, when the 



