Rocky Mountains, ' 369 



stract or metaphysical nature, their ideas appear to be very 

 limited; at any rate very little is known of th*;ir sentiments 

 upon subjects of this kind, owing probably, in a great mea- 

 sure, to the inability of the persons usually employed as in- 

 terpreters, to converse intelligently concerning them. The 

 delicate trains of thought and reflection, attributed to them 

 by writers, who have attempted to enlarge our acquaintance 

 with the Indian character, usually have their origin in the 

 ingenuity of the writers themselves. The exploits of their 

 war parties, and particularly those of Individuals, are often 

 recounted, but are seldom transmitted to succeeding genera- 

 tions, unless they are characterized by some signal advan- 

 tage to the tribe or nation to which the party or Individual 

 belongs. Hence, their history Is very defective, affording but 

 few incidents, and characterized by no regular series of 

 events. In regard to the population and strength of the se- 

 veral tribes and nations, also the ages of individuals, no pre- 

 cise statements can be made; all the information given under 

 these heads is almost without exception, conjectural. In rela- 

 tion to subjects of this kind, the Indians are either Ignorant 

 or wilfully silent, and deem it an impertinent curiosity that 

 prompts a stranger to the investigation of them. 



Notwithstanding these obstacles in the way of acquiring 

 authentic and credible Information concerning the savages, 

 yet there are certain traits In their general character, that 

 are observable In a partial acquaintance with a variety of 

 tribes and nations, and upon these the following remarks arc 

 grounded. 



They are, almost without exception, addicted to habits of 

 extreme Indolence; self-preservation, self-defence, and re- 

 creation, being their usual incitements to action. The labo- 

 rious occupations of the men, consist almost exclusively in 

 hunting, warfare, and tending their horses. Their amuse- 

 ments are principally horse-racing, gambling, and sports of 

 various kinds. The cultivation of corn and other vegetables, 

 the gathering of fuel, cooking, and all other kinds of domes- 

 tic drudgery, is the business of the women, the men deem- 

 ing it degrading to their dignity, to be occupied in employ- 

 ments of this kind. Their religion consists in the observance 

 of a variety of rites and ceremonies, which they practise with 

 much zeal and enthusiasm. Their devotional exercises con- 

 sist in singing, dancing, and the performance of various mys- 

 tical ceremonies^ which they believe efficacious in healing the 



VOL. ri. 47 



