252 ON THE ETHNOGRAPHY AND PHILOLOGY OF THE 
In the summer of 1855, a treaty was concluded with the Blackfeet, by Commissioners 
on the part of the United States, having for its object the entire cessation of hostilities be- 
tween them and neighboring tribes. Other stipulations were made with regard to depre- 
dations on white persons, either resident in, or travelling through their country. About 
$50,000 worth of goods of various kinds were sent to their country by the Government, 
and distributed among them, and a number of other tribes who were present at the treaty. 
Since that time, the Blackfeet have become more and more peaceable, and at the present 
time, they are considered the best disposed Indians in the Northwest. Their head chief 
has adopted, in part, the costume of the white man, and is setting the example to the 
remainder of his tribe, of settling down for a portion of the year, and cultivating the soil ; 
and as the game becomes scarce, others will follow. 
In regard to the early history of the Blackfoot nation, we know very little, except from 
brief allusions of various writers, and a few scanty vocabularies. ‘They have always been 
considered a bloodthirsty, cruel, and treacherous race, a terror to white men as well as 
Indians. As far as their present condition is concerned, the contrary is the case. ‘There 
is now no more peaceable, honorable, and prosperous Indian nation in the West than the 
Blackfeet. The impression in regard to their ferocity was doubtless derived, to a great 
extent, from the glowing accounts which have been given from time to time of their 
sanguinary conflicts with the trappers, a class of people, many of whom were scarcely less 
savage than themselves, and who always gave them ample cause for attacking them, when 
they found them the weaker party. From my own experience among them, and from in- 
formation derived from intelligent men, who have spent the greater portion of their lives 
with them, I am convinced that at the present time, they are among the most peaceable, 
honorable Indians in the West, and in an intellectual and moral point of view, they take 
the highest rank among the wild tribes of the plains. ‘They are also more flexible and 
teachable in their natures, and the head chief, a man who has attained his position by 
his prowess and success in war, has laid aside the Indian costume, put on that of the 
white man, located his family permanently on the Government farm, and commenced 
the cultivation of the soil, thus setting a noble example to his tribe. I have never met 
with Indians who appeared so susceptible to the influences of civilization as the Blackfeet, 
providing they are rightly applied. It is true that they have been brave and fond of war, 
which they have waged with relentless zeal against the Crows, and other hereditary 
enemies, from time immemorial. Their superior intelligence and energy have rendered 
them successful against an equal number of whites, and superior numbers of the neigh- 
boring tribes, until they became a terror to both. The writer has travelled much in their 
country, and when within the limits of the district claimed by them, he has felt safe, but 
