4938 ON THE ETHNOGRAPHY AND PHILOLOGY OF THE 
the American Fur Company erected Fort Clarke, for the express purpose of trading with 
the Mandans and Minnitarees, the former nation numbering about six hundred warriors, 
or eighteen hundred souls, and the latter about half as many. 
It is somewhat remarkable that notwithstanding all the misfortunes that have befallen this 
tribe for so many years, it even to this time preserves its independence and individuality 
as a nation. Nearly all of the Mandans speak the Minnitaree language, and many of them 
are familiar with the Dakota and Arikara tongues, but very few if any of the surrounding 
tribes have acquired that of the Mandans. . But one white man has ever learned to speak 
the language fluently, and he resided among them over twenty years. I cannot ascertain 
that there are any peculiar difficulties in the sounds or structure of the language, which 
should prevent individuals of other nations from acquiring it readily ; indeed, I think the 
evidence is quite clear, as suggested by Mr. Gallatin, that it is remotely allied to the 
Dakota stock, and presents few if any more obstacles to its acquisition than the other 
dialects of that group. ! 
In the year 1833 these Indians were in their most prosperous state, industrious, well 
armed, good hunters and good warriors, in the midst of herds of buffalo, mostly within sight 
of the village, with large corn-fields, and a trading-post, from which they could at all times 
obtain supplies, and consequently at that time they might have been considered a happy 
people. In their personal appearance, prior to the ravages of the small-pox, they were 
not surpassed by any nation in the Northwest. ‘The men were tall and well made, with 
regular features and a mild expression of countenance, not usually seen amongst Indians. 
Their complexion also was a shade lighter than that of other tribes, often approaching 
very near to some European nations, as the Spaniards. Another peculiarity was that some 
of them had fair hair, and some gray or blue eyes, which are very rarely met with among 
the other tribes. A majority of the women, particularly the young, were quite handsome, 
with fair complexions, and modest in their deportment. Instead of the brazen, forward 
look and manner, customary with females of some of the tribes of the Northwest, they 
were diffident and shy, avoiding any approaches of strangers or of their own people. ‘They 
were also noted for their virtue. ‘This was regarded as an honorable and most valuable 
quality amongst the young women, and each year a ceremony was performed, in the 
presence of the whole village, at which time all females who had preserved their virginity 
came forward, struck a post, and challenged the world to say aught derogatory of their 
character. As this was a religious ceremony, any of those present who could with truth 
contradict the statement felt bound to do so, and if detected in the deception, the female 
lost her standing forever afterward among the young of both sexes. In ordeals of this 
kind, it was remarked that more than two-thirds of the Mandan females came off victo- 
rious, which is regarded as a great proportion when the early traiming and the influences 
