‘THE MISSOURI AND PLATTE RIVERS, ETC 
far, and a good ford in low stages across the Vermilion and James 
rivers. Scarcity of e is a serious objection to winter travel. A 
better route in cold weather, or when the streams are flooded, though 
somewhat longer, ea nearer the Missouri, crossing the Vermilion 
and James rivers at their mouths, and at these two places ferry boats 
E should be provided. 
I have no special information concerning the route from Fort Pierre 
robably good and very direct, but James river 
and Tort oo between Fort Kearny and Fort Laramie, between 
rors Laramie and Fo iy pial and os Fort Fae and Sioux 
city, will be found at the end of this repor 
te A good road could be had from near the Be of the Platte iy the 
g00 
‘mouth of l’Eau qui Court, following the Elk Horn river; it ha 
sel by the American Fur Coma but I have no definite ae 
tion concerning i 
INDIANS AND MILITARY POSTS. 
_ The Dacotas occupy most of the country we have been consider ass 
and are scattered over an immense territory, extending from the 
_ sissippi on the east to the Black Hills on the west, and from the oa 
of the Platte on the south to Devil’s Lake on the north. ‘‘They say 
heir name means leagued or allied,”’ and they sometim@s speak of 
themselves as the ‘ ‘Ocheti Sha aowni, or ‘Seven Council ice 
_ These are the seven principal bands ‘hich compose the nation, v 
1. The Mde-wakan-tonwans, meaning village of the Spirit ake? 
“2. Wahpekutes, meaning leaf shooters. 
“3. Wahpe-tonwans, meaning village in 
“4. Sisi-tonwans, meaning village of the mars 
‘These four constitute the Mississippi and Minnesota Dacotas, and 
ay called by those on the Missouri ‘‘ Jsaniies.’’ They are estimated. 
t 6,200 souls. Some of these are said to give much trouble to the 
ttlers in northwestern Iowa and in Nebraska, and are charged with 
utrages during the past season. Fort Ridgely i is in their coun 
5. The Ihanktonwans, village ap the end, (Yanktons,) sometimes 
a 
e leaves. i 
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