denig] THE ASSINIBOUST 581 



Medicine; Drugs 



Most of them are beginning to see the superiority of drugs and 

 treatment of the sick as exhibited to them by whites and are becom- 

 ing aware that their drummings and superstitions are of no avail, 

 but it is only a perception of truth, not as yet leading to any change 

 in their superstitions, because no person instructs them *in aught 

 better. As it stands at present and to come to the point of this 

 matter, we would say a disposition to emerge from barbarism is 

 apparent among most of these tribes, though as yet no great advance- 

 ment has been made. The small improvements alluded to only show 

 the desire to exist, but their present organization, knowledge, and 

 relative positions to each other as nations do not admit of further 

 improvement, which must necessarily unfit them for their ordinary 

 pursuits and successful contention with enemies. 



Food 



Their provisions, cooking utensils, manner of cooking, serving the 

 meal and eating assimilates yearly more to that of the whites. Their 

 conversation, desires, and willingness to listen to counsel for their 

 benefit all convince of a disposition to advance toward civilization 

 and exchange their present mode of life for one more certain in 

 its resources, provided they could follow these employments secure 

 from the depredations of neighboring tribes yet their enemies; but 

 here is the difficulty, they are obliged to be always in readiness for 

 war, also to make excursions on their foes to replace their stolen 

 horses or revenge the death of their relatives. 



They usually eat three times a day, morning, noon, and night, if 

 meat is plenty, but the number of meals depends altogether on 

 the supply of food, as has already been stated. Clay pots and other 

 earthen vessels are still in use among the Mandan, Gros Ventres, and 

 Arikara, being of their own manufacture, though they also have 

 metallic cooking utensils. 



The flesh of buffalo and other animals is cut in broad, thin slices 

 and hung up inside the lodges on transverse poles over the fire, but 

 high up in the lodge and in the way of the smoke, which soon pene- 

 trates it. and in a few days the meat is dried and fit to pack away. 

 In the summer it is dried by spreading it in the sun. being cut up 

 as above, which soon cures it. They employ no salt in curing any 

 meat. 



The parts of the buffalo eaten in a raw state are the liver, kidneys, 

 gristle of the snout, eyes, brains, marrow, manvplies, or the omasum, 

 testicles, feet of small calves in embryo, and glands of the calf 

 envelope. Meat when cooked is either boiled or roasted, princi- 



