INDIAN TRIBES OF THE MISSOURI VALLEY. 375 
the whole of this division of the Dakota nation was governed by the great chief Wa’nata, 
but after his death in 1840 it became separated into three distinct bands, each having its 
own rulers. All of them, however, range and hunt on the east side of the Missouri, and 
very rarely are found beyond its western shores. They range in their hunting excursions 
from Apple River down to the mouth of the Little Shyenne, north to the neighborhood 
of the Lac du Diable, and east along the Coteau de Prairie, but never going as low down 
as the source of James River. Most of this district, though formerly the favorite range 
of the buffalo, is now nearly abandoned by them, and at the present time these animals 
are found only near the northern and western boundaries. In 1830, the Yanctonais, and 
a few Indians from other bands, being encamped opposite Fort Pierre, on the east side of 
the Missouri, killed fifteen hundred buffalo at a single surround. ‘This is the largest 
number that was ever known by the traders to be destroyed at any one time. ‘The fact 
was ascertained by the trader securing the tongues as the Indians returned from the hunt. 
Since this period the buffalo have gradually retired from the eastern districts, moving 
westward and northwest, and thus compelling the Indians to follow. From 1833 to 1844 
they were found in considerable numbers on the head branches of the Little Shyenne, and 
east in the direction of the Coteau de Prairie, but since that time few are seen so low 
down, which accounts for these Indians occupying their western limits, and hunting north 
as far as Pembina River. In their travels during the fall they not unfrequently come into 
collision with the half-breeds from the Red River of the North, who sometimes hunt 
buffalo in this country in parties of from three to six hundred men, bringing with them a 
thousand carts or more to transport the meat and skins to their settlement. Several 
skirmishes have occurred, in most of which the half-breeds have been the victors, and they 
are known to be better warriors than the Indians. ‘The latter, not gaining much in 
actual contests, retaliate by stealing the horses of the former at their village near Pembina 
in the absence of the men on their hunts. Of late years their visits in that direction have 
been more frequent and bold, several residents have been killed in the village, and many 
horses stolen. ‘This predatory warfare becoming very serious and annoying, the half- 
breeds applied a few years ago to the United States Government for permission to make 
war on the Indians on a large scale. ‘They claimed that they would be compelled to make 
war or remove to their original homes in the English possessions. 
NAMES OF DAKOTA BANDS, WITH THEIR PRINCIPAL CHIEFS. 
DAKOTA BANDS. PRINCIPAL CIIIEFS. 
min-i-sha’,* Red water band, éay-te-ni’-tku, Foolish Heart. 
ta-shunk~e-o-ta,} Plenty of horses, kan-ge-ni-a’-ke, Crow Feather. 
wak-po’-ki-an, Flying river band, he-wa-zin’-¢a, One Horn. 
* This band numbers cighty lodges, + Seventy-five lodges. 
VOL. X11.—48 
