ASS 



yiov et latior of Ray ; and it is conjectured is the fame kind 

 as Pallas calls onifcus globator. 



AssiMiLis, a fpecies of Oniscus, called by Pallas onif- 

 cus globator ; and by Ray afcUus marinus vulgaii brevior 

 et latior. It inhabits the European feas ; is oval, cinereous, 

 \vith an obtufe, unaniicd tail. 



ASSINI, in Gengrnphy. See IssiNi. 

 ASSINIBOIN, or Red river, fometimes called /f,^»/- 

 bo'ih, and ylfflnipoils, a river in the north-n-ell part of North 

 America, which difembogues on the fouth-well fide of the 

 lake Winipic, in N. lat. 50° 20'. W. long. 96° 30'. It 

 alternately receives the two denominations of Affiniboin and 

 Red river, from its dividing at the diftance of about thirty 

 miles from the lake into two large branches. The eaftern 

 branch, ciillcd the Red river, runs in a foulhern direction to 

 near the head waters of the MiffilTipi. On this tiveraretwo 

 trading eftabJifiiments. The country, on either fide, is but 

 partially fupplied with wood, and confifts of plains qfivered 

 with herds of the buffalo and the elk, efpecially on the 

 vvellcrn fide. On the eadeni fide are lakes and rivers, and 

 the whole country is well wooded, level, and abounding 

 with beaver, bears, moofe-deer, fallow-deer, &c. &c. The 

 inhabitants, who are of the Algonquin tribe, are not very 

 numerous, and are conndered as the natives of b.ke Superior. 

 This country is alfo inhabited by the Nadowafis, who are 

 the natural enemies of the former; and the head of the 

 water being in the war-line, they arc in a ftate of continual 

 hoilility. Although the Algonquins are equally brave, 

 tiiey are generally outnumbered by the others ; and, there- 

 fore, if they venture out of the woods, which form their 

 only proteftion, they will probably be foon extirpated. 

 There is not, it is faid, a finer country in the world, for the 

 refidence of uncivilifed man, than that which occupies the 

 fpace between this river and lake Superior. It abounds in 

 every thing neceffary to the wants and comfort of fuch 

 people. Fi(h, vcnifon, fowl, and wild rice, are very plen- 

 tiful; and their fubfillence demands that exercife which is 

 effential to health and vigour. This country was formerly 

 very popidous; but the aggregate of its inhabitants does 

 rot now exceed 300 warriors; and the widows appear to 

 be more numerous than the men. The racoon is a native 

 of this country, but is feldom found to the northward 

 of it. 



The other branch of the river is called after the tribe of 

 the Nadowafis, who are denominated AfTuiiboins, and who 

 are the principal inhabitants of its environs. It runs from 

 off the N.N.W., and in N lat. 51'' 25', and W. long. 103° 

 20', rifes in the fame mountains with the river Dauphin. 

 The country between this and the Red river is almoll a 

 continual plain to the Miffifoury. The foil is fand and 

 gravel, with a flight mixture of earth, and produces a {hort 

 grafs. Trees are very rare, and infufiicient, except in pai- 

 ticular fpots, for building houfi;?, and fupplying fire-wood 

 for the trading eflablilhinents, of which there arc four prin- 

 cipal ones. Both thefe rivers are navigable for canoes to 

 thicir fc -ces, without a fall; though in fome parts there 

 are rap ,;, caufed by occafional beds of limcftune and gravel ; 

 but th. bottom in general is fandy. 



Tiie /Ijfimhoiiis, and fome of the Fall, or big-bellied 

 Indians, are the principal inhabitants of this country, and 

 border on the river, occupying tiie central part of it; that 

 next lake Winipic, and about its fource, being the ilation of 

 the Algonquins and Knilleneaux, who have made choice of 

 it in preference to their own country. They do not exceed 

 500 families. They are not beaver-hnnters, which accounts 

 for their allowing the divifion juft mentioned, as the lower 

 and upper parts of this river have thofe animals, which are 

 Vol. III. 



ASS 



not found in the intermediate dillrift. They confine them- 

 felves to hunting the buffalo, and trapping wolves, which 

 cover the country. What they do not want of the former, 

 for raiment or food, they fometimes make into pemmican, 

 or pounded meat, while they melt the fat, and prepare the 

 fliins in their hair, for winter ufe. The wolves they never 

 eat; but produce a tallow from their fat, and prepare thcii' 

 (liins; all which they exchange for arms or ammur.itio.n, 

 gum, tobacco, knives, and varitius baubles, with thofe v.-ho 

 go to traffic in their country'. Thefe Nadowafis, or Affmi- 

 boins, called alfo Slor.c Indians, who inhabit the plains on 

 and about the fource and banks of the Safiiatchiwine and 

 Affiniboin rivers, are fuppofed to have migrated from the 

 fouthward, being detached tribe; from the Nadowafis, %vho 

 inhabit the weflem fide of the Miffiffipi, and lower part of 

 the Miffifourj-, and their progrefs is north-well. Mitckenzic's 

 Voyages from Montreal, &.c. Introd. p. 62, &c. p. 407. 



ASSINOIS, a nation of Indians, inhabiting the forcfts of 

 Canada. 



ASSIRATUM, in Antsqutty, a bloody draught, where- 

 with treaties were ratified. It was made of wine and 

 blood, called by the ancient Romans, qffir. 



ASSIS, in Phyfology, either denotes opium, or a powder 

 made of hemp-feed, which being formed into bolts about 

 the bignefs of chcfnuts, is fwallowcd by the Egyptians, 

 who are hereby intoxicated, and become ecllatic, and full of 

 the mod agreeable vifions. 



This is alfo called by the Turks ajfrrac. 

 ASSISA, or AssisiA. Sec the articles Assise, and 

 Talliage. 



AssiSA, catlerc, to faU from the ajfifc, in La'x, is to be 

 nonfuite-L Fleta, l.iv. c. 15. Bracton, 1. ii. c. 7. 



As SIS A cadit in jura/am, is where the thing in controverfy 

 is fo doubtful, that it muft neceffarily be tried by a jury. 

 Fleta, 1. iv. c. 15. 



AssisA capi in modum ajfifee, is when the defendant pleads' 

 direftly to the affife, without taking any exception to the 

 count, declaration, or Writ. 



AssisA contimianda, is a Writ directed to the juftices, to 

 take an affife for the continuance of the caufe, where cer- 

 tain records alleged cannot in time be procured by the 

 party. Reg. Orig. 217. 



AssisA iiocumcnti, is an njpfe of Nusance. See the 

 article. 



Assis A pan'is ly ceirvi/iir, denotes the power or privilege 

 of affigning and adjufting the weight and mcafure of bread 

 and beer. 



Ami !£ judicium, in La'-M, fignifies a judgment of the 

 court, given either againfl the plaintiff or defendant, for 

 default. 



AssiSA frgrognnda, is a writ direfted to the juffices of 

 affife, for the ftay of proceedings, on account of the king's 

 bufinefs wherein the party is employed. Reg. Orig. 208. 



ASSISE, or Assize, q^/.!, in Law, a fitting of judges 

 or juflices, for the hearing or deteiTnining of caufes. The 

 word is French, cjli/e, or qffis, feaud ; formed of the Latin 

 affidco, to ftt together, which is compounded oi ad, to, and 

 Jideo, I fit. 



Such is the etymology of the word ajjife, given by fir 

 Edward Coke; fo that it fignifies, originally, the juiy who 

 try the caufe, and fit together for that purpofe. By a 

 figure, it is now made to fignify the court or jurifdic^ion, 

 wliich fummons this jury together by a commiffion of affife, 

 or " ad affifas capiendas;"' whence the judicial affemblies 

 held by the king's commiffion in every county, as well 

 to take thefe writs of affife, as to try caufes at " Nifi Prius," 

 arc termed in common fpecch, \.\\cafjtjh. 



K Assise, 



