no Ân Hijîorical Journal of 



210 Commerce but with the Sioux and the Ajjïmboilsy and this has 

 not been greatly followed. 



Our MilTionaries have endeavoured to make a Settlement 

 Of th Sioux ^^o^g the Sioux ; and I knew one who greatly 

 J ' ^ ^ ' regretted that he had not fucceeded, or ra- 

 ther, that had not remained longer among thefe People, who 

 appeared to him docible. There are none perhaps from whom wç 

 îîiay gain more Information concerning all that is to the North 

 Weft of ùiQ Mi(Ji£l}pi, as they have an Intercourfe with all the 

 Nations of thefe vaft Countries. They dwell commonly in 

 Meadows, under Tents made of Skins, and well wrought : 

 They live on wild Oats, which grow in Abundance in their 

 Marlhes and Rivers, and by hunting, efpecially of the Buifa- 

 loes that are covered with Wool, and which are in Herds of 

 Thoufands in their Meadows : They have no fixed Abode, but 

 travel in great Companies like the Tartars, and never flay in one 

 Place any longer than the Chace detains them. 



Our Geographers diftinguifh this Nation into wandering Si- 

 eux, and Sioux of the Meadows, into Sioux of the Eafy and Sioux of 

 the Weft, Thefe Divifions don't appear to me to be well ground- 

 ed : All the Sioux live after the fame Manner ; whence it hap- 

 pens that a Village which was lafl Year on the Eaii Side of the 

 Miftiffippi, fhall next Year be on the Weft Side ; and that thofe 

 who were at one Time by the River St, Pierre, are perhaps now 

 far enough from it in feme Meadow. The Name of Sioux y 

 Vv^hich we have given to thefe Savages, is entirely our ov/n mak- 

 ing, or rather is the two laft Syllables of Nadouefttoux, as they are 

 called by many Nations : Others call them Nadoucjjis, They 

 are fhe moft numerous People we know in Ca7tada : They were 

 peaceable enough, and little ufed to War, before the Hurons and 

 02^/iZi'//^zj took Refuge in their Country, Hying from the Fury oT 

 the Iroquois, They derided their Simplicity, and made them 

 Warriors to their own Coft. 



The Sioux have feveral Wives, and they feverely punifh thofe 

 that fail of Conjugal Fidelity. They cut off the End of their 

 Nofss, and cut a Circle in a Part of the Skin on the Top of their 

 Head, and pull it oiF. I have feen fomc People who are perr 

 fuaded that thefe Savages had a Chinefe Accent : It would not 

 be difficult to know the Truth of this, nor to know if their 

 Language has any Affinity with the Chinefe. 



Thofe who have been amongft the AJftniboils fay, that they are 

 Of the Affini ^^^^ made, ftrong, nimble, inured to the 



^ " Cold and all Manner of Fatigues ; that they 

 " prick themfelves all over the Body, and mark 

 out Figures of Serpents, or other Animals, and that they under- 

 take very long Journies. There is nothing in this that diftin- 



guiflies 



