IlK.NUi] 



THE ASSINIBOIN 



421 



in accounts kept by the Hudson's Bay Co. with the Cree and the 

 Chippewa, but from authentic information the following appears to 

 be their system. A plue is equal to 1 pound beaver skin or 3 shillings 

 sterling (say 67 cents) ; that is, 1 pound of the fur is worth at their 

 forts 67 cents in merchandise at their fixed prices. Therefore a large 

 beaver skin (2 pounds) is 2 plues; 6 muskrats, which are worth from 

 10 to 12J/2 cents each, is a plue ; 1 wolf skin is counted a plue, being 

 equal in value to the standard 67 cents ; an otter skin is 2 plues, a red- 

 fox 1, and so forth. 



All skins and other articles of trade acquired by Indians are reck- 

 oned into plues by the trader and the Indians and the prices of 

 merchandise are computed in the same manner. On the Missouri the 

 plan is somewhat different, to explain which we annex the following 

 accounts copied from our books. It will be necessary to observe that 

 everything is brought to the standard of buffalo robes which have 

 an imaginary value of $3 each in the country. 



The Cbazt Bear, Assiniboin Chief 



Pictorial or other signs are not used in accounts, either by them or 

 the white people. 



Elements of Figures. — A single stroke answers for 1 and each 

 additional stroke marks the additional number as far as 100. When 

 a stroke is made apart, the score is rubbed out and begun again. 

 There are no written nor marked records kept, either on graves or 

 otherwise, of ages or of events, scalps taken, or war expeditions. 5 * 

 Their transactions, or coups, as they are called in this country, are 

 pictured on their robes, lodges, and shields, but these wearing out are 

 seldom renewed, particularly when the man becomes old. Also these 

 coups are recounted publicly by the performer on occasions appointed 

 for the purpose, which we shall notice hereafter, and moreover, are 



"It is not intended by this that they make no use of picture writing, but that I hew 

 records are not preserved. For further explanation see picture writing, p. 603. The de- 

 vices on their robes are not renewed after they have arrived at a very advanced age, or in 

 other words after their influence and standing has been destroyed by age and helplessness. 



