THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 135 



In the writings left by early French authors, the word Pottaw atomies 

 was spelled, as is the case with the names of other tribes, to suit the 

 arbitrary tastes of the various authors. 



THE POTTAWOTOMIES. 



Early in 1000 the Pottawatomies were occupying the lower peninsula of Michigan 

 in scattered bands, whence they were finally driven westward by the Iroquois and 

 settled about Green Bay. The French acquired much influence over them, whom they 

 joined in their wars with the Iroquois. Joined Pontiac in his uprising in 1763. Hos- 

 tile to colonists during the Revolution, but made a peace in 1795, joining the English 

 again, however, in 1812. New treaties followed in August 29, 1821, and alter, by which 

 their lands were almost entirely conveyed away, uutil in 1838 a reserve was allotted 

 them on the Missouri, to which 800 were removed. The whole tribe then numbered 

 about 4,000, some bands of which had made considerable progress in civilization, while 

 a j)art, called the Pottawatomies of the Prairie, were roving and pagan. Those in Kan- 

 sas made rapid progress in civilization. In 1867, 1,400 out of 2,180 elected to become 

 citizens and taken their lands in severalty ; the others held to their tribal organization, 

 but disintegration set in and many became wanderers, some even going to Mexico. 

 A portion of them left their reservation in Kansas during the war of the rebellion and, 

 with some Kickapoos, went to Mexico. They returned in 1882 and are at the Sac 

 and Fox Agency, Indian Territory. It is difficult at the present time to estimate their 

 whole number, owing to their scattered condition. There are only 450 in the Indian 

 Territory under the care of the Indian Bureau, and in Michigan 60. The others are 

 citizens or roaming in Mexico. — W. H. Jackson, 1877. 



PRESENT LOCATION AND NUMBERS. 



Pottawatomies at Sac and Fox Agency, Indian Territory, August 

 11, 1884, 500; August 10, 1885, 550; self- sustaining, farmers and stock- 

 raisers ; adjoin the Seminoles. 



Pottawatomies at Pottawatomie and Great Nemaha Agency, Kansas, 

 September 10, 1884, 432; Angnst 20, 1885, 430; they have 77,357 acres 

 of land; cattle, swine, and pony raisers, and farmers (limited). Some 

 of them are considered rich men. 



Pottawatomies of Huron, at Mackinac Agency, Michigan, 77 in 1884; 

 August, 1885, 72. 



Pottawatomies residing in Wisconsin and Iowa, 280 in 1884, and in 

 1885, 280; in all 357. Many Pottawatomies have become citizens of the 

 United States. Total in 1884, 1,239; in 1S85, 1,337. 



H. 0. Linn, the agent of the Pottawatomies of Great Nemaha, writes, 

 September, 1884 : 



RELIGIOUS DANCES. 



There has been introduced into the Pottawatomie tribe in the past year a system of 

 worship which consists principally of dancing and exulting, though, like all semi- 

 civilized nations, clouded in superstition. Apart from the superstition and consump- 

 tion of time spent in those dances the moral tendency is very good, as the teaching is 

 in accordance with the Ten Commeudments. They object to sacrament by the use of 

 intoxicating drink, and denounce gambling and horse-raciug. This religion w'as intro- 

 duced by the Chippewas of Wisconsin. 



