388 ON THE ETHNOGRAPHY AND PHILOLOGY OF THE 
Couleé, and Pembina River. Indeed, the entire extent of country east of Fort Union as 
far down as the Great Bend is hunted in by them at different times; but owing to the 
absence of fuel on this broad plain, they are obliged to place their camp on or near the 
Missouri during the winter season. ‘They are, therefore, usually found at that time either 
on White Earth River or above that point, where trading-houses are established for their 
benefit. ‘Some fifteen or twenty lodges of this band trade at the posts of the Hudson’s 
Bay Company, or with the halfbreeds of Red River, who visit their camp during the 
winter with dog-sledges loaded with merchandise. The remaining bands mentioned, are 
scattered over the intervening region between those of the two bands Just mentioned, moving 
from point to pomt near the Coteau de Prairie in summer, approaching the Missouri in 
the autumn, and stationing themselves on its banks or low down on some of its tributaries. 
These bands commonly make their winter hunt near the Quaking Asp River, and along 
that stream, but when the weather permits them to travel over the unwooded plains, pro- 
ceed as far north as the Cypress Mountains. Some of them, especially the Gens du Nord, 
go still farther, and trade either at some of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s posts on the 
Assiniboin River, or with the Red River half-breeds. 
The Assiniboins subsist almost entirely on the proceeds of their hunts. The buffalo is 
the principal animal killed, which is found in greater numbers through this territory than 
in other districts. ‘The meat of this animal, either fresh or cured by drying, is their prin- 
cipal food. Smaller game, such as elk, deer, and antelope, are not killed to any extent. 
Some indigenous fruits and roots aid considerably in their support, at times when buftalo 
are too far from camp. The skins of the animals killed by them serve for their clothing, 
and lodges, or are exchanged with the Fur Company for articles of use and comfort, assorted 
to suit their wants. Owing to their nomadic life, they seldom have a supply of meat laid 
up for the future, and consequently often live on a short allowance for a time; but when 
buffalo are near at hand, there is continual feasting throughout the camp. It also some- 
times happens that from an entire disappearance of these animals, they are distressed by 
actual want, which was the case in 1846, when they ate their dogs and horses, and, in 
some instances, even their own children. They have but few horses, and these are re- 
quired to transport their tents and children when travelling. Dogs are used to a great 
extent for carrying burdens, but they cannot carry heavy packs, and when killed for food, 
their means for migrating from point to point is taken away, especially in the winter, 
when the snow is so deep that horses cannot travel. ‘This inability to transport provisions 
prevents the desire to lay up for the future, and militates against any economy. ‘They 
are compelled to follow the buffalo at all times when one day’s travel from their camp. 
In this respect they are not as comfortable as those tribes who live in stationary villages, 
as the Mandans, Minnetarees, &c., who take care to lay up a good store of provisions 
