380 ON THE ETHNOGRAPHY AND PHILOLOGY OF THE 
Before proceeding further with their history as obtained from the old men of the tribe, 
let us present a summary of the notices of different travellers as far back as we have the 
means of ascertaining. Inasmuch as an extended history of the Indian tribes of the Mis- 
souri Valley is in process of preparation, only the more important and standard works of 
travel will be referred to in this memoir. 
Umfreville calls these Indians Assinnee-Poetuc, and says that they obtained their name 
from the Crees, which signifies in their language Stone Indians. THe also states that they 
are a “detached tribe from the Naudawissees of the Mississippi, who anciently separated 
from the general stock on account of some intestine commotion.” He gives a vocabulary 
of forty-four words of the Assiniboin language, and, so far as I can ascertain, the first 
ever published. Henry speaks of them as Osinipoilles or Assiniboins, who at that time 
lived in the vicinity of and traded at Fort de Prairie. He says that they are the “ Issati 
of older travellers, and have sometimes been called Weepers.” He gives much interesting 
information in regard to this tribe, and suggests that their language connects them with 
the Nadouwesis. La Hontan merely alludes to them as “ Nadouessis or Scioux.” Gal- 
latin, who seems to have had access to works beyond my reach at this time, thus sums up 
their ancient history: ‘‘ The Assiniboins (Stone Indians) are a Dakota tribe, separated 
from the rest of the nation, and on that account called Ho-ha, or Rebels, by the other 
Sioux. They are said originally to have formed a part of the Yanktons, but we are not 
acquainted with their real name. ‘Their separation must have taken place at an earlier 
date than has been presumed by late writers. Father Marquette, writing in the year 
1669, from the Chagouadmigong Mission, after having mentioned the Nadouessies as a 
formidable nation, speaking a language altogether different from the Algonkin and the 
Huron, adds, that the Assiniponiels have almost the same language as the Nadouessies, 
and live about fifteen days’ journey from the Mission on a lake, which, from a map 
annexed to that volume of the Relations, must have been Lake Winnipek.” 
Carver (1796) alludes to the “ Assinepoils” as having revolted from the ‘ Naudowessie 
nation,” and formed a league with the “ Killistinoes,” keeping up a continual warfare, how- 
ever, with other neighboring tribes. Mackenzie (1801) also alludes to the Assiniboins as 
a detached tribe of the ‘‘ Nadowasis,” and residing upon the river which bears their name. 
A number of vocabularies of the Assiniboin language have been published from time 
to time. So far as I am able to learn, the first one given to the public was published by 
Umfreville (1790), consisting of forty-four words. 
The Prince of Neuwied, in his excellent work, ‘Travels in North America,” 1839-41, 
gives quite an extended vocabulary, with some interesting remarks in regard to their 
manners and customs. Prior to this time, however (1817), Major 8S. H. Long obtained a 
small but accurate list of words of their language, which was published in the appendix 
