ORDER II. BIMANA. 369 
All these tribes speak dialects of the Dahcotah tongue. The Assinniboins 
are known also by the names of Ossinneboins, Ossinnepoilles, Stone In- 
dians, and Hohays. This last is the name they give themselyes. Their 
secession from the Dahcotah stock is recent, and its cause is as follows: One 
Dahcotah had eloped with the wife of another, and taken refuge in the tents 
of his kindred. The husband, going to reclaim his spouse, was slain by the 
adulterer. His father and uncles, demanding blood for blood, according to 
the laws of the tribe, were slain also. The quarrel of the dead was taken 
up by their relatives, and the kindred of the guilty persons were defeated 
with loss. A series of bloody encounters ensued, till at last the party of the 
original aggressor were worsted and separated from the tribe. 
They were called Hohays, and have been at war with the Dahcotahs till 
within a few years. They now roam over the plains from the Saskashawin 
to the Missouri, where they live by hunting the buffalo. Their principal 
resort is about Devil Lake. As well as the Indians farther north-west, 
they have few guns, or other articles, the manufacture of the whites. Their 
number cannot be ascertained, but it is certain they exceed a thousand fight- 
ing men. A tradition of the Winnebagoes says they were driven from the 
frontier of Mexico by the Spaniards, towards whom they entertain a heredi- 
tary hatred to this day. Within two centuries, they were united with the 
Otoes, the Toways, and Missouris. They are a fierce, warlike people, and 
have more national spirit than any other Indians on the frontier. The Otoes 
and Missouris, now united, are renowned among the tribes of the Mis- 
souris for their bravery. They could muster, a few years since, about 
three hundred men. 
The Toways still dwell on the Mississippi. They have from one hundred 
to two hundred men. The Osages are divided into three tribes, and can 
boast over one thousand warriors. The Kansas inhabit the plains about the 
heads of the Arkansas and Red Rivers. Their number is unknown. The 
Omahaws live high up the Missouri. _ Besides these tribes, there dwell on 
the Mississippi, between the River Des Moines, the Wisconsin, and the Mis- 
souri, the Sacs and Foxes — a branch of the Chippeway tribe. They speak 
the Chippeway tongue, and number above one thousand men. On the Mis- 
souri are the Pawnees, divided into three tribes, of which the Arikarees are 
a branch. They live by hunting the buffalo, and are said to have a language 
of their own. The Mintarees, or Bigbellies, the Mandans, the Crows, and 
the Blackfeet, also live on the Missouri; and each is said to have a language 
of its own. Their numbers are unknown. The Shoshonees live between 
the head waters cf the Missouri and Columbia Rivers. They are almost 
constantly on horseback, and are at war with the lower tribes of the Mis- 
souri. On the Columbia River are the Chohunnish, the Skilloots, Echeloots, 
