394 ON THE ETHNOGRAPHY AND PHILOLOGY OF THE 
came down upon them in the night so suddenly, that they had barely time to escape with 
their lives by running to the hills. But the land near the bluffs is often lower than that 
near the bank of the stream, and consequently in running that way they encountered 
water, wading and swimming through it and carrying their children. ‘They lost the pro- 
ducts of their whole winter’s hunt, besides nearly all their arms, ammunition, and other 
property. When the water fell it left immense quantities of ice piled up around their 
lodges, causing great difficulty in securing them again. ‘Their entire loss on this occasion 
could not have been less than ten or twelve thousand dollars worth of robes and merchan- 
dise. At another time the American Fur Company’s fort at the mouth of the Big-horn 
was inundated in the same way, and a large amount of property destroyed. ‘This river is, 
when high, very rapid and dangerous to navigate, on account of the rocks, snags, and 
other obstructions. Mackinaw boats descend it every year, but they are often lost and the 
men are drowned. 
The Crow Indians live in skin huts like the other migratory tribes. They formerly 
numbered about eight hundred lodges or families, but from the usual causes of diminu- 
tion, disease and war, are now reduced to four hundred and sixty lodges. These are 
separated into different bands, each governed by a chief, and occupying different parts of 
their territory. Those belonging to the band headed by the “ Big Robber,” usually make 
their hunt on the head of Powder River, and of late years take their robes to the trading- 
houses along the Platte River in the spring. Here they obtain supplies to continue their 
operations, and move back to winter quarters early in the fall. The largest band is led 
by a chief named “'Two-face,” and numbers about two hundred lodges. These range 
through the Wind River mountain region, and deal with the traders of the American Fur 
Company located on the Yellowstone. A third portion, under their chief, “ Bear’s Head,” 
wander along the valley of the Yellowstone, from mouth to source, sometimes passing the 
winter with the Assiniboins near Fort Union. The whole nation have a rendezvous every 
summer, when, after performing several national solemnities, they move across the moun- 
tains to exchange the greater part of the merchandise for horses. This traffic is carried 
on with the Flat-heads in St. Mary’s Valley, or with the Snake and Nez Percé Indians on 
the head waters of the Yellowstone. With the nations just named the Crows have been 
at peace for many years, and also with the Assiniboins since 1850. But their natural and 
perpetual enemies are the Blackfeet on the west and the Dakotas on the east, with both 
of which nations they have kept up a continual warfare from time immemorial. 
J have before me the materials for an extended sketch of the manners and customs, toge- 
ther with biographical sketches of the principal chiefs of this tribe, but, as they will doubt- 
less appear ina future work now in course of preparation, I will close with a brief notice of 
the different vocabularies of the Crow language which have been published from time to time. 
