f1 



F. V. Hayden on the Mandan Indians^ with 



putting therein a trader and a few men, with a small supply of 

 goods, and abandoning the post in the spring, taking with them 

 down the river their returns of furs and skins. The Arickaras 



„ „ _ ..„.j residing in their village near Grand i 



ruins of which are still visible. In 1829 Fort Clarke was erected 

 for the express purpose of trading with the Mandans and Minne- 

 tarees. The former tribe then possessed a population of about 

 1800 persons, and the latter about half that number. _ f 



It is somewhat remarkable that notwithstanding all the mis- 

 fortunes that have overtaken the Mandans for so many j^ears, 

 they even to this time preserve their independence and individ- 

 uality as a nation. Nearly all the Mandans speak the Minnitaree 

 language, and many of them are familiar with the Dakota and 

 Arickara 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 upwards of twenty years. I cannot ascertain that 

 there are any peculiar difficulties in the pronunciation or struc- 

 ture of the language which should prevent individuals of other ^ 

 nations from acquiring it readily; indeed I think that the evi- | 

 dence is quite clear, as suggested by Mr. Gallatin, that it i3 | 

 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 the Mandans were in their most prosperous 

 state, well armed, good hunters, good warriors, with herds of 

 buffalo within sight of their village— large cornfields and a 

 trading post from which they could at all times obtain needed 

 supplies. In their personal appearance prior to the ravages of 

 small'pox, they were not surpassed by any nation in the North- 

 west. The men were tall and well made, with regular features 

 and a mild expression of countenance not usuallv seen among 

 Indians. Their complexion also was a shade lighter than that of 

 other tribes, often approaching very near to that of some Euro- 

 pean nations. Another peculiarity, which has often been ob- 

 served by travellers, was that some of them had fair hair, and 

 gray or blue eyes, which are very rarely met with among other 

 tribes. A majority of the women, particularly the young, were 

 quite handsome, with fair complexions and modest in their de- 

 portment. 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 chal- 

 lenged the world to°say ought derogatory of their character. As 

 this was a religious ceremony, any persons present, who could 

 with truth contradict the statement, felt bound to do bo, and ii 



