Rocky Mountains. 279 



night, whilst he slept, the flesh of the bison that he had cut 

 off, grew over the side again, and effectually prevented 

 his getting out, and the animal being restored to life, he had 

 thus been pent up ever since. 



Such anecdotes, however puerile and absurd they may be, 

 if characteristic, lead us to a more accurate and complete 

 knowledge of the manners and habits of the people, than 

 still more copious general remarks and reflections. 



The Minnetarees, in common with several other nations 

 of our Indians, have the strange tradition of their origin, that 

 they formerly lived under ground. M Two boys," say they, 

 " strayed away from them, and absented themselves several 

 days. At length they returned and informed the nation that 

 they had discovered another world, situate above their pre- 

 sent residence, where all was beautiful and light. They saw 

 the sun, the earth, the Missouri, and the bison. This ac- 

 count so delighted the people, that they immediately aban- 

 doned their subterranean dwelling, and, led by the boys, ar- 

 rived on the surface of the earth, at the spot which their vil- 

 lages now occupy, and where they have dwelt ever since. 



Soon after they had established themselves in this new 

 world, a party of strange men appeared mounted on horses. 

 They attacked these wonderful Centaurs with their bows and 

 arrows, and succeeded in killing one of them, on which the 

 others fled. Not at first perceiving that the man and horse 

 were two distinct animals, they were surprised to see the 

 former fall to the earth, as if one part of the compound ani- 

 mal was dead, and the other part still active, having received 

 no injury. They at length succeeded in securing the horse, 

 and after admiring the beauty of his form, and becoming fa- 

 miliar with him, they proceeded to tie one of their young 

 men upon his back with cords, that he might not fall off; the 

 horse was then led cautiously by the bridle, until, finally, he 

 became sufficiently fearless to ride alone. 



They seem to have full faith in the notion that, at their 



