boffmax] EARLY POPULATION 33 



each warrior. In Purcell's enumeration of " warriors, gunmen," ' etc, 

 the Creek and Seminole Indians had about one warrior in three of the 

 population ; the Chickasaw one in four, the Choctaw, Cherokee, and 

 Catawba one in tbree. If the same ratio should be applied in the 

 enumeration of the Menomini, the population of that tribe would be 

 nearer 600. 



There appears to have been a rapid increase in the population sub- 

 sequently if we may credit Dr Morse, 2 who visited Green bay in 18:30, 

 with reference to the subject of removing to that country the New 

 York Indians. He says, "The Menoiniue.es, or Folles Avoines, have 

 GOO warriors, 900 women, 2,400 children, total 3,900; they live in ten 

 villages, north-west of Green Bay, on Menomine river, which is their 

 north-east boundary, but chiefly ou Fox river, on and near Winnebago 

 lake." A few are mentioned, also, as scattered at other places. In 

 this enumeration the proportion of warriors to the whole number 

 would be about one to six and a half. 



According to an enumeration made in September, 1842, the popula- 

 tion was found to be 2,464,-' but in 1850 they were estimated at only 

 500 souls. 4 In 1856 the number reported was 1,930, while in 1857 the 

 total number was given as 1,697, comprising 358 men, 425 women, and 

 914 children; the discrepancy being doubtless due to inaccuracy in 

 counting and not to death. Great difficulty has been experienced at 

 various times in endeavoring to obtain an accurate census, as Indians 

 are frequently governed in their statements and conduct by the motive 

 which they conceive to prompt the agents or other authorities in 

 procuring such enumeration. When, for instance, they believe that it 

 is to their advantage to exaggerate their population, women have 

 been known to report themselves with their family, and to increase 

 the latter by borrowing an infant to swell the number; when, a few 

 moments later, the same infant, wrapped in another blanket, would 

 be brought forward by another woman to add to her household. < >u 

 the contrary, if the question of population be such that it would be 

 advantageous for the Indians to report as small a number as possible, 

 scarcely any infants could be readily found. 



The report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for 1863 places the 

 Menomini population at 1,724 souls, while some years later (in 1872) 

 the population on the reservation was 1,362. The report of the same 

 officer for the year 1882 places the population at 1,500; for the year 

 1884 at 1,400; for 1890 at 1,311, and for the year 1892, as above stated, 

 the total is given as 1,335, not including those residing at and in the 

 vicinity of Oconto, who number about 300. 



The Menomini Indians are rapidly adopting the pursuits of civilized 

 people, considering the comparatively short period of time since they 



' Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc, vol. iv, 1795 pp 99-lui). 



2 Report to the Sec of War, New Haven, 1822, p. 51. 



3 Report Commissioner Iml. AS.. Washington, 1843, p 440 



4 History of the Catholic Missions, John Gilmary Shea, New York (1854 h 

 14 ETH 3 



