THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 113 



viz, the Kikatsa or Crows proper, the Ahnahaways, and the Allakaweah, numbering 

 in all, as estimated in 1820,3,250 souls. Obtaining horses at an early day, they became 

 great marauders. Irving writes of them in "Astoria": "They are in fact notorious 

 marauders and horse-stealers, crossing and recrossing the mountains (the Big Horn), 

 robbing on one side and conveying their spoils to the other." Hence, we are told, is 

 derived their name, given them on account of their unsettled and predatory habits, 

 winging their flight, like the crows, from one side of the mountains to the other, and 

 making free booty of everything that lies in their way. In 1851, joined in a treaty with 

 the United States giving a right of way for roads to be built through their country. 

 [In 1880 this was consummated.] In 1868 a treaty was made, and an attempt made 

 to place all the Crows on one reservation, but without success until 1875, when they 

 were located on the Crow Reservation, in Montana. They have been much exposed 

 to incursions from some parties of Sioux at their new agency on the Rosebud as well 

 as at their former one on the Yellowstone. The Indians, full of war and revenge, 

 have no thought to bestow upon farming or other peaceful employment, especially as 

 the best farming lands of the reservation are most exposed to these hostile incursions. 

 Six families, however, have been induced to tend small farms, and have succeeded 

 well. A mile and a half of ditch, sufficient to irrigate several hundred acres, has been 

 dug, and it is hoped that another season will see at least a beginning made toward 

 the civilization of these 4,000 wild but always loyal Crows. — W. H. Jackson, 1877. 



PRESENT LOCATION AND CONDITION. 



The Crows are divided by local usage into the Mountain and River 

 Crows. 



The River Crows were for a long time divided, a portion of them 

 being at or near Fort Belknap Agency and many roamed. They are 

 now, however, all on the Crow reservation, as given below. 



In June, 1885, the Crows, at Crow Agency, Montana, numbered 3,226. 

 By occupation they are farmers and herders. 



They were removed from the western portion of their reservation in 

 1883 to the valleys of the Big and Little Big Horn Rivers. Many hold 

 their lands in severalty. The reports of the agents in charge for ten 

 years past (see Report of Commissioner of Indian Affairs since 1875) 

 contain much information as to the habits and life of the Crows, and 

 show them to be a superior Indian. 



The Crows are believed to own more than 15,000 horses. 



THE CROW INDIANS IN 1885. 



Henry J. Armstrong, agent of the Crows for many years, in his last 

 report, dated September 20, 1885, writes : 



Although I have been much perplexed, annoyed, and discouraged many times by 

 what seemed the shiftlessness of the Crows, yet I must say, in closing my term of 

 office, that they have shown as good a disposition to do what was right as we could 

 expect from any savage people. Of course they do not farm like white men, but it 

 would be unfair to expect a people who for so long a time as they have any traditions 

 have lived happily by the chase, and who still prefer that life, to work as well as 

 white men. I can say that the Crows — take the good and bad together — are a good- 

 hearted people. I know very well that many white men passing through the Indian 

 country ridicule the idea that the Indians will ever do any real work, but I thiuk 

 such men expect more than they have a right to, and that they are unjust. We have 

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