106 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



of 450 lodges ; and the " Small Robes," of 250 lodges. These four bands constituting 

 a-bout 1,650 lodges, averaging ten to the lodge, amount to about 16,500 souls. 



Tbere are then of the other tribes above-mentioned (and whom we, perhaps, in- 

 ■correctly denominate Blackfeet), Gros Ventres des Prairies, 430 lodges, with language 

 -entirely distinct; Circees, of 220 lodges, and Cotonnds, of 250 lodges, with language 

 also distinct from either. Several years since writing the above, I held a conver- 

 sation with Major Pilcher (a strictly correct and honorable man, who was then the 

 ^gent for these people, who has lived amongst them, and is at this time superin- 

 tendent of Indian affairs at Saint Louis), who informed me, much to my surprise, that 

 the Blackfeet were not far from 60,000 in numbers, including all the confederacy of 

 which I have just spoken. 



There is in this region a rich and interesting field for the linguist or the antiquarian^ 

 -^nd stubborn facts, I think, if they could be well procured, that would do away with 

 *he idea which many learned gentlemen entertain, that the Indian languages of North 

 America can all be traced to two or three. — G. C. 



PRESENT LOCATION AND CONDITION. 



The Blackfeet are now on a reservation (since 1866). (See also titles 

 Sioux, Dakota, and Crow, herein, for further details.) 



They are on a reservation in the vicinity of their original roaming 

 ground, and near British Columbia. 



Their history since Mr. Catlin's visit in 1832 is embraced substantially 

 in that of the Sioux tribes generally, and the Crows and Flatheads. 

 They were in the past wild Indians of the plains. Their progress 

 in civilized ways can be found at length in the report of the agent at 

 the Blackfeet Agency, Montana, and in the annual reports of the Com- 

 missioner of Indian Affairs. 



Mr. Catlin undoubtedly was led into an erroneous statement in rela- 

 tion to the numbers of the Blackfeet and Blackfeet Sioux. The Black- 

 feet Sioux have no connection with the Blackfeet proper — one is a 

 Dakota tribe, the other of Algonkin stock ; but in Mr. Catlin's time, 

 roaming over nearly the same territory, a distinction was difficult to 

 make. 



Blackfeet at Blackfeet Agency, Montana, with Blood and Piegan, 

 2,300, June, 1885; believed to be slowly decreasing; still blanket In- 

 dians. 



The number of Blackfeet proper at Blackfeet Agency, Montana, is 

 uncertain, as they are included with the Blood and Piegans in the 

 official reports. 



CROWS (BEL-AI^T-SE-A). 



[Crows: Laws of the United States. Crows: Indian Bureau, June, 1885.] 



A tribe of 7,000, on the headwaters of the Yellowstone River, extending their hunts 

 and their wars into the Rocky Mountains, inveterate enemies of the Blackfeet ; tall, 

 fine-limbed men, graceful and gentlemanly in deportment, and the most richly and 

 tastefully clad of any Indiana on the continent. Skin lodges, many of which are 

 tastefully ornamented and painted like the one standing in the room. 

 (See No. 491, herein.) 



Mr. Catlin met the Crows at Fort Union in 1832, and again on the 

 Snake Eiver plains in 1851-'55. 



