INDIAN TRIBES OF THE MISSOURI VALLEY. 389 
for the future. Their roving habits prevent the accumulation of much baggage. All 
useless articles must be thrown away to make room for those that are necessary, and thus 
personal property cannot be acquired to any amount. ven their horses, the main stay of 
their existeace, are very precarious stock, being subject at any moment to be taken away 
by the hostile tribes in the neighboring territories. These things united produce a care- 
lessness of character and an apathy of disposition which runs through most of their 
actions. 
In their personal appearance, they are not remarkable for either beauty or homeliness. 
‘The men average about the middle height, and usually have a determined, dogged look, es- 
pecially when in a strange place. In their homes, however, they are more sociable. Each 
master of a lodge preserves a degree of dignity in his family circle, and exhibits a deter- 
mination to be respected. They do not play or joke much with their women or children, 
nor do they enter into useless quarrels or recriminations. ‘Trifling differences are settled 
by decision of the master in a tone of authority, and more serious quarrels are ended by the 
sudden application of the tomahawk. ‘They are affectionate to their children, kind to 
strangers, distant in their manners to each other unless to kindred, and very revengeful 
when roused into passion. 
There are but few handsome women amongst them, and virtue is somewhat rare except 
in very young females. In these matters, however, they are very sly and modest, exhi- 
biting none of the bold and barefaced vulgarity of the Arikavas and Crows. ‘They do not 
seem to be an amorous people, and marriages are often contracted for the first time at 
twenty-five or thirty years of age. 
VOCABULARY OF THE ASSINIBOIN DIALECT OF THE DAKOTA LANGUAGE. 
above, a-kan’. 
alive, ni. 
all, o-was’. 
ankle, si-kun’-paz-o. 
arm, ish-to’. 
arrow, wa-hink’-a-pa. 
autumn, pi-ti’-i-tu. 
axe, Ons’-pe. 
back, ta-pe’-ta. 
_ bark, éuy-ha’. 
bear, ma-to’. 
beard, pu-te’-hi. 
beaver, éa’-pa. 
belt, i-pi’-ya-ka. 
bird, tit-ka’-na. 
black, sa’-pa. 
bladder, ta-ne’-ha. 
blood, o-we’. 
blue, to. 
boat, wa’-ta. 
body, ta-éun’. 
bone, hu-hu’. 
bow, i-tas’-i-pa. 
boy, oli-shi’-na. 
breast, man-ka’. 
breecheloth, ¢ée-gi-min’-ka. 
brother, ¢in-¢u’, elder brother. 
sun-ka/-ku, younger bro- 
ther. 
buffalo, wo’-ta-a, buffalo in a herd. 
ta-tun’-ga, a bull. 
burn, spaun, to burn. 
call, ki-paun’, to call. 
cap, wa-pa’-ha, hat or cap. 
certainly, tok. 
chicken, 6m-pau’-ho-to. 
chief, hun-ga’. 
coat, éa-i-gi-nunk’-a. 
cold, sni. 
copper, muz/-a-zi, gold or brass. 
cow, pte. 
crow, 2-a-na. 
cry, ¢e’-a, to cry. 
