denig] THE ASSINIBOIN 625 



ing silent on the subject; but, having written, we prefer placing 

 things in their proper light, aiming at great general good, and thus 

 without further comment the whole is left in the hands of those for 

 whom it is intended. 



Intermarriage with Whites 



The prairie tribes have not been much affected by intermarriages 

 with Europeans except the Cree. Most of the Red River settlement 

 of half-breeds are of Cree and Chippewa extraction, who though not 

 generally having the advantage of education, are, however, a bold, 

 hardy, and fearless people, invariably good-looking, active, and brave. 

 They unite hunting with agricultural operations but prefer the 

 former, the indisposition to work showing itself equally in the de- 

 scendant as in the original stock. Their parents and the Cree Nation 

 generally have been, if not benefited, much instructed by these people, 

 and are superior in intellectual acquirements to any of the other 

 tribes. The history of this settlement is no doubt well known to all, 

 so that we need not describe it here. 



As far as these other tribes are concerned the only intermixture has 

 been of the fur traders and engagees of the fur company. Of these, 

 all that can afford it take their children to the States to be educated, 

 who usually make intelligent and respectable men. If it were not 

 for the popular prejudice existing, or if it were possible, we would 

 advise amalgamation of the races as the most efficient means for 

 saving the remnants of the Indian tribes. 



Population 



Regarding the comparative population of these tribes with the 

 years 1833 to 1854. the decrease is very great. Smallpox, cholera, 

 measles, and influenza, together with other diseases and wars, inci- 

 dental to the climate and their pursuits, have reduced the Sioux about 

 one-third, the Mandan three-fourths, the Arikara one-fifth, the As- 

 siniboin one-half, the Cree one-eighth, the Crows one-half, and the 

 Blackfeet one-third less than they were at the former period. 

 They — that is, from the Sioux up — are now slowly on the increase. 



Language 



To answer the queries on this head would require a volume of itself, 

 but the Assiniboin being the same or nearly the same as the Sioux, 

 and as the Sioux has already been translated into the English letters, 

 books published in it. and the same taught in schools on the Missis- 

 sippi, it is presumed that any and all answers to these queries can 

 be obtained by procuring the books printed in the Sioux language 



