340 ON THE ETHNOGRAPHY AND PHILOLOGY OF THE 
GCHAP TEE XI: 
V. ATSINAS. 
ETHNOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 
Tue Atsinas are undoubtedly a branch of the Arapoho nation, as the great similarity in 
the two languages would indicate. The cause of their separation from the Arapohos 
probably originated in some feud, so common among savage tribes. They then crossed 
the Rocky Mountains (the nearest route to the Blackfoot country from the Platte is to 
cross the mountains near the sources of Snake River, and recross at the sources of the 
Missouri), and associated themselves with the Blackfeet. When this division took place 
is not now correctly known, though we think it must have occurred some time within the 
last century. Their former hunting grounds, as indeed were those of the whole of the 
Blackfoot nation, were on the tributaries of the Saskatchewan, in which region buffalo and 
other game was abundant. Previously to the opening of the trade with these Indians on 
the Upper Missouri, they sold all their skins to the Hudson’s Bay Company, seldom 
visiting the country about the sources of the Missouri except for hostile purposes. 
It is said that the Atsinas captured one of the English forts, murdered the people, and 
were, on that account, obliged to change their location for the one they now occupy. 
This is very probable, as they are a subtle, revengeful people, social and united in their 
undertakings, and easily influenced and guided by their chiefs. At the present time, and 
for many years past, their range has been along Milk River, on the east side of the Mis- 
souri, extending nearly as far as Cypress Mountains. From this line to the Marias River 
stretches a beautiful, level country, well covered with grass, and adapted to the pasturage 
of buffalo. Here the Indians under consideration may be found at all seasons,—in the 
winter, along the banks of Milk River, where wood can be obtained, and on the plains in 
summer, where fuel is not so necessary. 
As we have before stated, the Atsinas were originally a portion of the Arapoho tribe, 
now occupying the country about the sources of the Platte River. We may here say, in 
giving an account of their past wanderings, that the precise time of their separation from 
the Arapohos is not known. For the last hundred years or more they have lived on the 
Saskatchewan and near the sources of the Missouri. With the Blackfeet they have 
always been on terms of peace and amity, having intermarried with them and learned to 
speak their language. It is worthy of remark, that while nearly all of them speak the 
Blackfoot language fluently, very few, if any, of the Blackfeet have ever acquired that of 
the Atsinas. They usually converse in a low, quiet tone, and there is apparently such a 
similarity and monotony in the words, as well as sounds, that their language is regarded 
by the traders and Indians as the most difficult to learn of any on the Upper Missouri. 
