denig] THE ASSINIBOIN 413 



friends or foes, will have no difficulty in reading the same, though 

 such representations would be quite unintelligible to whites unless 

 instructed. (PI. 64.) Some Indians have good ideas of propor- 

 tion and can immediately arrive at the meaning of a picture, point- 

 ing out the objects in the background, though others can not distin- 

 guish the figure of a man from that of a horse, and as to their exe- 

 cutions of any drawing they are rude in the extreme. Where the 

 natural talent exists, however, there is no doubt they could be 

 instructed. 



Antiquities 



From the Sioux to the Blackfeet, inclusive, there is not in all 

 that country any mounds, teocalli, or appearances of former works 

 of defense bearing the character of forts or any other antique struc- 

 ture. Not a vestige or relic of anything that would form data, or be 

 an inducement to believe their grounds have ever been occupied by 

 any other than roving tribes of wild Indians; nor in the shape of 

 tools, ornaments, or missiles that would lead to any such inference. 

 We have not been more fortunate in searching their traditions in the 

 hope of finding some clue relative to these things. They do not be- 

 lieve that any persons ever occupied their country except their own 

 people (Indians), and we can not say we have ever seen or heard 

 anything to justify any other conclusion regarding the extent of 

 territory mentioned. 



The elk-horn mound, mentioned elsewhere, is evidently of re- 

 mote date and the work of Indians, but proves nothing sought by 

 these researches. It might be stated that although no antique vessels 

 of clay are found, yet the Arikara now, and as long as the whites 

 have known them, have manufactured tolerably good and well- 

 shaped clay vessels for cooking, wrought by hand without the aid of 

 any machinery, and baked in the fire. They are not glazed, are of a 

 gray color, and will answer for pots, pans, etc., equally as well as those 

 made by the whites, standing well the action of fire and being as 

 strong as ordinary potter's ware. They also have the art of melting 

 beads of different colors and casting them in molds of clay for ear 

 and other ornaments of various shapes, some of which are very 

 ingeniously done. We have seen some in shape and size as drawn 

 in Plate 65, the groundwork blue, the figure white, the whole about 

 one-eighth inch thick, and presenting a uniform glazed surface. 



Pipes 



No antique pipes are found, but many and various are now maile 

 by all Indians. 



