THE INTERIOR OF OREGON. 591 



Blackfeet are hostile to the Americans alone ; this is not the case, for 

 they make no distinction between white men. I have been told by 

 gentlemen of the Hudson Bay Company, that they are equally 

 formidable to British traders, and have cut oif a number of their 

 trappers; yet, notwithstanding this, some whites are established 

 among them, and have great influence in the nation ; although they 

 cannot at all times protect others who fall into their hands. It is 

 dangerous for stragglers to pass through the country ranged by the 

 Blackfeet, as it is said to be not uncommon for the tribe to have 

 out thirty war-parties at a time. 



From some of the officers of the Hudson Bay Company, I learned 

 that there were many Delawares and Sha-wanese among the Black- 

 feet, and that the former, known by the name of the " Shaved Heads," 

 were mvich dreaded by the other tribes. The Blackfeet appear to have 

 obtained their reputation for prowess, from the advantage acquired 

 by the use of tire-arms, which they obtained sooner than the Oregon 

 Indians, among whom they then made great havoc, and whom they 

 inspired with corresponding fear. Since the latter, however, have also 

 obtained these weapons, the disparity no longer exists. 



The Blackfeet principally inhabit that part of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains between the head waters of the Columbia, and those of the 

 Missouri and Yellowstone rivers. 



The Snakes, or Shoshones, are widely-scattered tribes, and some 

 even assert that they are of the same race as the Camanches, whose 

 separation is said to be remembered by the Snakes : it has been 

 ascertained, in confirmation of this opinion, that they both speak the 

 same language. The hunters report, that the proper country of the 

 Snakes is to the east of the Youta Lake, and north of the Snake or 

 Lewis river ; but they are found in many detached places. The 

 largest band is located near Fort Boise, on the Snake river, to the 

 north of the Bonacks. The Snakes have horses and fire-arms, 

 and derive their subsistence both from the chase and from fishing. 

 There are other bands of them, to the north of the Bonacks, who 

 have no horses, and live on acorns and roots, their only arms being 

 bows and arrows. In consequence of the mode of gaining their 

 subsistence, they are called "Diggers," and are looked upon with 

 great contempt. 



The Crows inhabit the country between the Wind River Moun- 

 tains and the Platte ; and are represented as not so hostile at present 

 to the whites as the Blackfeet. The former are much the most shrewd 



VOL. IV. 126 



