INDIAN TRIBES OF THE MISSOURI VALLEY. 255 
But the most reliable information in regard to the Indians of the Upper Missouri is 
given in that magnificent work of Maximilian, Prince of Wied.* He visited that country 
in the years 1832, 78, and *4, and spent considerable time among the Blackfeet, under 
circumstances which were favorable for obtaining an accurate knowledge of them. He 
also procured a brief but very correct vocabulary. 
There is also a vocabulary of the Blackfoot language in the “ Proceedings of the Philo- 
logical Society of London,” Vol. IV, 1850, but I was unable to gain access to it. 
A good traders’ vocabulary was made by J. B. Moncrovie, who was for a long time a 
trader among the Blackfeet Indians on the Upper Missouri. This is published in School- 
craft’s “Indian Tribes of the United States,” Vol. II, pp. 494-505. 
A few words, about twenty-three in number, and the Lord’s Prayer translated into 
the Blackfoot language, is given in the latter part of a work entitled, “Oregon Missions, 
and Travels over the Rocky Mountains, in 1845 and ’46, by Father P. J. De Smet, of the 
Society of Jesus.” 
The above comprises, as far as I can ascertain, the entire literature of the Blackfoot 
language, and it will be seen that it consists only of rather brief vocabularies. Nothing 
of the grammatical structure has ever been secured, and thus my brief sketch may be con- 
sidered as the first attempt toward a grammar of this language. 
An interesting sketch of the Blackfoot nation may be found in Part V of Schoolcraft’s 
great work. ‘The materials were supplied by the late Col. D. D. Mitchell, of St. Louis, Mis- 
souri, who spent many years among these Indians, as one of the partners of the American 
Fur Company. It may be well in this place to discuss the origin and meaning of the 
names of the different bands of the Blackfeet. Col. Mitchell relates the origin of the term 
Blackfoot in the following manner. These Indians originally inhabited the region of country 
drained by the Saskatchewan and its tributaries, and only visited the valley of the Missouri 
on hunting excursions or marauding expeditions. ‘They became distributed over a wider 
range of country on account of the claims of two ambitious chiefs, each one of whom desired 
the sole command of the nation. ‘Thus a separation took place, and the followers of one 
chief retired southward to the headwaters of the Missouri, where game is plenty and all 
the luxuries of a savage life are abundant. ‘The remainder continued in the valley of the 
Saskatchewan, where they roam at the present day, trading, for the most part, with the 
Hudson’s Bay Company. Prior to the separation, however, bloody battles ensued, in one 
of which the parties fought “‘ three days and three nights. The sun and moon was made 
red by smoke of the hot blood which flowed through the ravines, and the rocks along the 
banks of Belly River remain red to this day.” ‘The black chief was at length defeated, 
* Reise des Prinzen Maximilian zu Wied, Coblentz, 1839-1841. 2 vo's. 4to. Vol. II, pp. 589 et seg. ; Vol. 
II, pp. 480-486. There is also an English translation of the narrative in 1 vol. 4to. London, 1843. 
VOL. XII.—33 
