Since my last Letter, nothing of great moment has transpired at this
place; but I have been continually employed in painting my portraits
and making notes on the character and customs of the wild folks who
are about me. I have just been painting a number of the Crows, fine
looking and noble gentlemen. They are really a handsome and well-formed
set of men as can be seen in any part of the world. There is a sort of
ease and grace added to their dignity of manners, which gives them the
air of gentlemen at once. I observed the other day, that most of them
were over six feet high, and very many of these have cultivated their
natural hair to such an almost incredible length, that it sweeps the
ground as they walk; there are frequent instances of this kind amongst
them, and in some cases, a foot or more of it will drag on the grass
as they walk, giving exceeding grace and beauty to their movements.
They usually oil their hair with a profusion of bear’s grease every
morning, which is no doubt one cause of the unusual length to which
their hair extends; though it cannot be the sole cause of it, for the
other tribes throughout this country use the bear’s grease in equal
profusion without producing the same results. The Mandans, however, and
the Sioux, of whom I shall speak in future epistles, have cultivated
a very great growth of the hair, as many of them are seen whose hair
reaches near to the ground.
This extraordinary length of hair amongst the Crows is confined to the
men alone; for the women, though all of them with glossy and beautiful
hair, and a great profusion of it, are unable to cultivate it to so
great a length; or else they are not allowed to compete with their
lords in a fashion so ornamental (and on which the men so highly pride
themselves), and are obliged in many cases to cut it short off.
The fashion of long hair amongst the men, prevails throughout all the
Western and North Western tribes, after passing the Sacs and Foxes; and
the Pawnees of the Platte, who, with two or three other tribes only,
are in the habit of shaving nearly the whole head.
The present chief of the Crows, who is called “Long-hair,” and has
received his name as well as his office from the circumstance of
having the longest hair of any man in the nation, I have not yet
seen: but I hope I yet may, ere I leave this part of the country.
This extraordinary man is known to several gentlemen with whom I am
acquainted, and particularly to Messrs. Sublette and Campbell, of whom
I have before spoken, who told me they had lived in his hospitable
lodge for months together; and assured me that they had measured his
hair by a correct means, and found it to be ten feet and seven inches
in length; closely inspecting every part of it at the same time, and
satisfying themselves that it was the natural growth.
On ordinary occasions it is wound with a broad leather strap, from his
head to its extreme end, and then folded up into a budget or block, of
some ten or twelve inches in length, and of some pounds weight; which
when he walks is carried under his arm, or placed in his bosom, within
the folds of his robe; but on any great parade or similar occasion, his
pride is to unfold it, oil it with bear’s grease and let it drag behind
him, some three or four feet of it spread out upon the grass, and black
and shining like a raven’s wing.
It is a common custom amongst most of these upper tribes, to splice or
add on several lengths of hair, by fastening them with glue; probably
for the purpose of imitating the Crows, upon whom alone Nature has
bestowed this conspicuous and signal ornament.
Amongst the Crows of distinction now at this place, I have painted the
portraits of several, who exhibit some striking peculiarities. Amongst
whom is Chah-ee-chopes, the four wolves (+plate+ 24); a fine looking
fellow, six feet in stature, and whose natural hair sweeps the grass
as he walks; he is beautifully clad, and carries himself with the most
graceful and manly mien—he is in mourning for a brother; and according
to their custom, has cut off a number of locks of his long hair, which
is as much as a man can well spare of so valued an ornament, which he
has been for the greater part of his life cultivating; whilst a woman
who mourns for a husband or child, is obliged to crop her hair short to
her head, and so remain till it grows out again; ceasing gradually to
mourn as her hair approaches to its former length.
Duhk-pits-a-ho-shee, the red bear (+plate+ 26), a distinguished
warrior; and Oo-je-en-a-he-ha, the woman who lives in the bear’s den
(+plate+ 25). I have also painted Pa-ris-ka-roo-pa (two crows) the
younger (+plate+ 27), one of the most extraordinary men in the Crow
nation; not only for his looks, from the form of his head, which seems
to be distortion itself—and curtailed of all its fair proportions; but
from his extraordinary sagacity as a counsellor and orator, even at an
early stage of his life.
There is something very uncommon in this outline, and sets forth the
striking peculiarity of the Crow tribe, though rather in an exaggerated
form. The semi-lunar outline of the Crow head, with an exceedingly low
and retreating forehead, is certainly a very peculiar and striking
characteristic; and though not so strongly marked in most of the tribe
as in the present instance, is sufficient for their detection whenever
they are met; and will be subject for further comment in another place.
The Crow women (and Blackfeet also) are not handsome, and I shall at
present say but little of them. They are, like all other Indian
women, the slaves of their husbands: being obliged to perform all the
domestic duties and drudgeries of the tribe, and not allowed to join
in their religious rites or ceremonies, nor in the dance or other
amusements.
[Illustration: 24 25]
[Illustration: 26 27]
The women in all these upper and western tribes are decently dressed,
and many of them with great beauty and taste; their dresses are all of
deer or goat skins, extending from their chins quite down to the feet;
these dresses are in many instances trimmed with ermine, and ornamented
with porcupine quills and beads with exceeding ingenuity.
The Crow and Blackfeet women, like all others I ever saw in any Indian
tribe, divide the hair on the forehead, and paint the separation or
crease with vermilion or red earth. For what purpose this little, but
universal, custom is observed, I never have been able to learn.
The men amongst the Blackfeet tribe, have a fashion equally simple, and
probably of as little meaning, which seems strictly to be adhered to
by every man in the tribe; they separate the hair in two places on the
forehead, leaving a lock between the two, of an inch or two in width,
which is carefully straightened down on to the bridge of the nose, and
there cut square off. It is more than probable that this is done for
the purpose of distinction; that they may thereby be free from the
epithet of effeminacy, which might otherwise attach to them.
These two tribes, whom I have spoken of connectedly, speak two distinct
and entirely dissimilar languages; and the language of each is
different, and radically so, from that of all other tribes about them.
As these people are always at war, and have been, time out of mind,
they do not intermarry or hold converse with each other, by which any
knowledge of each other’s language could be acquired. It would be the
work of a man’s life-time to collect the languages of all the different
tribes which I am visiting; and I shall, from necessity, leave this
subject chiefly for others, who have the time to devote to them, to
explain them to the world. I have, however, procured a brief vocabulary
of their words and sentences in these tribes; and shall continue to do
so amongst the tribes I shall visit, which will answer as a specimen
or sample in each; and which, in the sequel to these Letters (if they
should ever be published), will probably be arranged.
The Blackfeet are, perhaps, the most powerful tribe of Indians on
the Continent; and being sensible of their strength, have stubbornly
resisted the Traders in their country, who have been gradually forming
an acquaintance with them, and endeavouring to establish a permanent
and profitable system of trade. Their country abounds in beaver and
buffalo, and most of the fur-bearing animals of North America; and
the American Fur Company, with an unconquerable spirit of trade and
enterprize, has pushed its establishments into their country; and the
numerous parties of trappers are tracing up their streams and rivers,
rapidly destroying the beavers which dwell in them. The Blackfeet
have repeatedly informed the Traders of the Company, that if their
men persisted in trapping beavers in their country, they should kill
them whenever they met them. They have executed their threats in many
instances, and the Company loses some fifteen or twenty men annually,
who fall by the hands of these people, in defence of what they deem
their property and their rights. Trinkets and whiskey, however, will
soon spread their charms amongst these, as they have amongst other
tribes; and white man’s voracity will sweep the prairies and the
streams of their wealth, to the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean;
leaving the Indians to inhabit, and at last to starve upon, a dreary
and solitary waste.
The Blackfeet, therefore, having been less traded with, and less seen
by white people than most of the other tribes, are more imperfectly
understood; and it yet remains a question to be solved—whether there
are twenty, or forty or fifty thousand of them? for no one, as yet, can
correctly estimate their real strength. From all I can learn, however,
which is the best information that can be got from the Traders, there
are not far from 40,000 Indians (altogether), who range under the
general denomination of Blackfeet.
From our slight and imperfect knowledge of them, and other tribes
occupying the country about the sources of the Missouri, there is no
doubt in my mind, that we are in the habit of bringing more Indians
into the computation, than are entitled justly to the appellation of
“Blackfeet.”
Such, for instance, are the “Grosventres de Prairie” and Cotonnés,
neither of which speak the Blackfeet language; but hunt, and eat,
and fight, and intermarry with the Blackfeet; living therefore in a
state of confederacy and friendship with them, but speaking their own
language, and practicing their own customs.
The Blackfeet proper are divided into four bands or families, as
follow:—the “Pe-a-gans,” of 500 lodges; the “Blackfoot” band, of 450
lodges; the “Blood” band, of 450 lodges; and the “Small Robes,” of 250
lodges. These four bands constituting about 1650 lodges, averaging ten
to the lodge, amount to about 16,500 souls.
There are then of the other tribes above-mentioned (and whom we,
perhaps, incorrectly denominate Blackfeet), Grosventres des Prairies,
430 lodges, with language entirely distinct; Circees, of 220 lodges,
and Cotonnés, of 250 lodges, with language also distinct from either.[1]
There is in this region a rich and interesting field for the linguist
of the antiquarian; and stubborn facts, I think, if they could be well
procured, that would do away the idea which many learned gentlemen
entertain, that the Indian languages of North America can all be
traced to two or three roots. The language of the Dohcotas is entirely
and radically distinct from that of the Mandans, and theirs equally so
from the Blackfoot and the Crows. And from the lips of Mr. Brazeau, a
gentleman of education and strict observation, who has lived several
years with the Blackfeet and Shiennes, and who speaks the language of
tribes on either side of them, assures me that these languages are
radically distinct and dissimilar, as I have above stated; and also,
that although he has been several years amongst those tribes, he has
not been able to trace the slightest resemblance between the Circee,
Cotonné, and Blackfoot, and Shienne, and Crow, and Mandan tongues; and
from a great deal of corroborating information, which I have got from
other persons acquainted with these tribes, I am fully convinced of the
correctness of his statements.
Besides the Blackfeet and Crows, whom I told you were assembled at
this place, are also the Knisteneaux (or Crees, as they are commonly
called), a very pretty and pleasing tribe of Indians, of about 3000
in number, living on the north of this, and also the Assinneboins and
Ojibbeways; both of which tribes also inhabit the country to the north
and north-east of the mouth of Yellow Stone.
The Knisteneaux are of small stature, but well-built for strength and
activity combined; are a people of wonderful prowess for their numbers,
and have waged an unceasing warfare with the Blackfeet, who are their
neighbours and enemies on the west. From their disparity in numbers
they are rapidly thinning the ranks of their warriors, who bravely
sacrifice their lives in contentions with their powerful neighbours.
This tribe occupy the country from the mouth of the Yellow Stone, in
a north-western direction, far into the British territory, and trade
principally at the British N. W. Company’s Posts.
The Assinneboins of seven thousand, and the Ojibbeways of six thousand,
occupy a vast extent of country, in a north-eastern direction from
this; extending also into the British possessions as high north as
Lake Winnepeg; and trading principally with the British Company. These
three tribes are in a state of nature, living as neighbours, and are
also on terms of friendship with each other. This friendship, however,
is probably but a temporary arrangement, brought about by the Traders
amongst them; and which, like most Indian peace establishments, will be
of short duration.
The Ojibbeways are, undoubtedly, a part of the tribe of Chippeways,
with whom we are more familiarly acquainted, and who inhabit the
south-west shore of Lake Superior. Their language is the same, though
they are separated several hundred miles from any of them, and seem to
have no knowledge of them, or traditions of the manner in which, or of
the time when, they became severed from each other.
The Assinneboins are a part of the Dohcotas, or Sioux, undoubtedly; for
their personal appearance as well as their language is very similar.
At what time, or in what manner, these two parts of a nation got
strayed away from each other is a mystery; yet such cases have often
occurred, of which I shall say more in future. Large parties who
are straying off in pursuit of game, or in the occupation of war,
are oftentimes intercepted by their enemy; and being prevented from
returning, are run off to a distant region, where they take up their
residence and establish themselves as a nation.
There is a very curious custom amongst the Assinneboins, from which
they have taken their name; a name given them by their neighbours,
from a singular mode they have of boiling their meat, which is done in
the following manner:—when they kill meat, a hole is dug in the ground
about the size of a common pot, and a piece of the raw hide of the
animal, as taken from the back, is put over the hole, and then pressed
down with the hands close around the sides, and filled with water. The
meat to be boiled is then put in this hole or pot of water; and in a
fire, which is built near by, several large stones are heated to a red
heat, which are successively dipped and held in the water until the
meat is boiled; from which singular and peculiar custom, the Ojibbeways
have given them the appellation of Assinneboins or stone boilers.
This custom is a very awkward and tedious one, and used only as an
ingenious means of boiling their meat, by a tribe who was too rude and
ignorant to construct a kettle or pot.
The Traders have recently supplied these people with pots; and even
long before that, the Mandans had instructed them in the secret of
manufacturing very good and serviceable earthen pots; which together
have entirely done away the custom, excepting at public festivals;
where they seem, like all others of the human family, to take pleasure
in cherishing and perpetuating their ancient customs.
Of these three tribes, I have also lined my painting-room with a number
of very interesting portraits of the distinguished and brave men; and
also representations of their games and ceremonies, which will be found
in my +Indian Gallery+, if I live, and they can be preserved until I
get home.
The Assinneboins, or stone boilers, are a fine and noble looking race
of Indians; bearing, both in their looks and customs, a striking
resemblance to the Dohcotas or Sioux, from whom they have undoubtedly
sprung. The men are tall, and graceful in their movements; and wear
their pictured robes of the buffalo hide with great skill and pleasing
effect. They are good hunters, and tolerably supplied with horses;
and living in a country abounding with buffaloes, are well supplied
with the necessaries of Indian life, and may be said to live well.
Their games and amusements are many, of which the most valued one is
the ball-play; and in addition to which, they have the game of the
moccasin, horse-racing, and dancing; some one of which, they seem to be
almost continually practicing, and of all of which I shall hereafter
give the reader (as well as of many others of their amusements) a
minute account.
Their dances, which were frequent and varied, were generally exactly
the same as those of the Sioux, of which I have given a faithful
account in my Notes on the Sioux, and which the reader will soon
meet with. There was one of these scenes, however, that I witnessed
the other day, which appeared to me to be peculiar to this tribe,
and exceedingly picturesque in its effect; which was described to me
as the _pipe-dance_, and was as follows:—On a hard-trodden pavement
in front of their village, which place is used for all their public
meetings, and many of their amusements, the young men, who were to
compose the dance, had gathered themselves around a small fire (+plate+
32), and each one seated on a buffalo-robe spread upon the ground.
In the centre and by the fire, was seated a dignitary, who seemed
to be a chief (perhaps a doctor or medicine-man), with a long pipe
in his hand, which he lighted at the fire and smoked incessantly,
grunting forth at the same time, in half-strangled gutturals, a sort
of song, which I did not get translated to my satisfaction, and which
might have been susceptible of none. While this was going on, another
grim-visaged fellow in another part of the group, commenced beating
on a drum or tambourine, accompanied by his voice; when one of the
young men seated, sprang instantly on his feet, and commenced singing
in time with the taps of the drum, and leaping about on one foot and
the other in the most violent manner imaginable. In this way he went
several times around the circle, bowing and brandishing his fists in
the faces of each one who was seated, until at length he grasped one of
them by the hands, and jerked him forcibly up upon his feet; who joined
in the dance for a moment, leaving the one who had pulled him up, to
continue his steps and his song in the centre of the ring; whilst he
danced around in a similar manner, jerking up another, and then joining
his companion in the centre; leaving the third and the fourth, and
so on to drag into the ring, each one his man, until all were upon
their feet; and at last joined in the most frightful gesticulations
and yells that seemed almost to make the earth quake under our feet.
This strange manœuvre, which I did but partially understand, lasted
for half or three-quarters of an hour; to the great amusement of the
gaping multitude who were assembled around, and broke up with the most
piercing yells and barks like those of so many affrighted dogs.
The Assinneboins, somewhat like the Crows, cultivate their hair to
a very great length, in many instances reaching down nearly to the
ground; but in most instances of this kind, I find the great length is
produced by splicing or adding on several lengths, which are fastened
very ingeniously by means of glue, and the joints obscured by a sort
of paste of red earth and glue, with which the hair is at intervals of
every two or three inches filled, and divided into locks and slabs of
an inch or so in breadth, and falling straight down over the back to
the heels.
I have painted the portrait of a very distinguished young man, and son
of the chief (+plate+ 28); his dress is a very handsome one, and in
every respect answers well to the descriptions I have given above. The
name of this man is Wi-jun-jon (the pigeon’s egg head), and by the side
of him (+plate+ 29) will be seen the portrait of his wife, Chin-cha-pee
(the fire bug that creeps), a fine looking squaw, in a handsome dress
of the mountain-sheep skin, holding in her hand a stick curiously
carved, with which every woman in this country is supplied; for the
purpose of digging up the “Pomme Blanche,” or prairie turnip, which is
found in great quantities in these northern prairies, and furnishes the
Indians with an abundant and nourishing food. The women collect these
turnips by striking the end of the stick into the ground, and prying
them out; after which they are dried and preserved in their wigwams for
use during the season.
I have just had the satisfaction of seeing this travelled-gentleman
(Wi-jun-jon) meet his tribe, his wife and his little children; after an
absence of a year or more, on his journey of 6000 miles to Washington
City, and back again (in company with Major Sanford, the Indian agent);
where he has been spending the winter amongst the fashionables in the
polished circles of civilized society. And I can assure you, readers,
that his entrée amongst his own people, in the dress and with the airs
of a civilized beau, was one of no ordinary occurrence; and produced no
common sensation amongst the red-visaged Assinneboins, or in the minds
of those who were travellers, and but spectators to the scene.
On his way home from St. Louis to this place, a distance of 2000 miles,
I travelled with this gentleman, on the steamer Yellow-Stone; and
saw him step ashore (on a beautiful prairie, where several thousands
of his people were encamped), with a complete suit _en militaire_,
a colonel’s uniform of blue, presented to him by the President of
the United States, with a beaver hat and feather, with epaulettes of
gold—with sash and belt, and broad sword; with high-heeled boots—with
a keg of whiskey under his arm, and a blue umbrella in his hand. In
this plight and metamorphose, he took his position on the bank, amongst
his friends—his wife and other relations; not one of whom exhibited,
for an half-hour or more, the least symptoms of recognition, although
they knew well who was before them. He also gazed upon them—upon his
wife and parents, and little children, who were about, as if they were
foreign to him, and he had not a feeling or thought to interchange with
them. Thus the mutual gazings upon and from this would-be-stranger,
lasted for full half an hour; when a gradual, but cold and exceedingly
formal recognition began to take place, and an acquaintance ensued,
which ultimately and smoothly resolved itself, without the least
apparent emotion, into its former state; and the mutual kindred
intercourse seemed to flow on exactly where it had been broken off,
as if it had been but for a moment, and nothing had transpired in the
interim to check or change its character or expression.
Such is one of the stoic instances of a custom which belongs to all the
North American Indians, forming one of the most striking features in
their character; valued, cherished and practiced, like many others
of their strange notions, for reasons which are difficult to be learned
or understood; and which probably will never be justly appreciated by
others than themselves.
[Illustration: 29 28]
[Illustration: 30 31]
[Illustration: 32]
This man, at this time, is creating a wonderful sensation amongst
his tribe, who are daily and nightly gathered in gaping and listless
crowds around him, whilst he is descanting upon what he has seen in the
fashionable world; and which to them is unintelligible and beyond their
comprehension; for which I find they are already setting him down as a
liar and impostor.
What may be the final results of his travels and initiation into the
fashionable world, and to what disasters his incredible narrations
may yet subject the poor fellow in this strange land, time only will
develop.
He is now in disgrace, and spurned by the leading men of the tribe, and
rather to be pitied than envied, for the advantages which one might
have supposed would have flown from his fashionable tour. More of this
curious occurrence and of this extraordinary man, I will surely give in
some future epistles.
The women of this tribe are often comely, and sometimes pretty;
in +plate+ 34, will be seen a fair illustration of the dresses of
the women and children, which are usually made of the skins of the
mountain-goat, and ornamented with porcupine’s quills and rows of elk’s
teeth.
The Knisteneaux (or Crees, as they are more familiarly called in this
country) are a very numerous tribe, extending from this place as high
north as the shores of Lake Winnepeg; and even much further in a
north-westerly direction, towards, and even through, a great part of
the Rocky Mountains.
I have before said of these, that they were about 3000 in numbers—by
that, I meant but a small part of this extensive tribe, who are in the
habit of visiting the American Fur Company’s Establishment, at this
place, to do their trading; and who themselves, scarcely know anything
of the great extent of country over which this numerous and scattered
family range. Their customs may properly be said to be primitive, as no
inroads of civilized habits have been as yet successfully made amongst
them. Like the other tribes in these regions, they dress in skins, and
gain their food, and conduct their wars in a very similar manner. They
are a very daring and most adventurous tribe; roaming vast distances
over the prairies and carrying war into their enemy’s country. With the
numerous tribe of Blackfeet, they are always waging an uncompromising
warfare; and though fewer in numbers and less in stature, they have
shewn themselves equal in sinew, and not less successful in mortal
combats.
Amongst the foremost and most renowned of their warriors, is
Bro-cas-sie, the broken arm (+plate+ 30), in a handsome dress; and by
the side of him (+plate+ 31), his wife, a simple and comely looking
woman. In +plate+ 33, will be seen the full length portrait of a young
woman with a child on her back, shewing fairly the fashion of cutting
and ornamenting the dresses of the females in this tribe; which,
without further comment, is all I shall say at this time, of the
valorous tribe of Crees or Knisteneaux.
The Ojibbeways I have briefly mentioned in a former place, and of them
should say more; which will be done at a proper time, after I shall
have visited other branches of this great and scattered family.
The chief of that part of the Ojibbeway tribe who inhabit these
northern regions (+plate+ 35), and whose name is Sha-co-pay (the Six),
is a man of huge size; with dignity of manner, and pride and vanity,
just about in proportion to his bulk. He sat for his portrait in a most
beautiful dress, fringed with scalp locks in profusion; which he had
snatched, in his early life from his enemies’ heads, and now wears as
proud trophies and proofs of what his arm has accomplished in battles
with his enemies. His shirt of buckskin is beautifully embroidered and
painted in curious hieroglyphics, the history of his battles and charts
of his life. This, and also each and every article of his varied dress,
had been manufactured by his wives, of which he had several; and one,
though not the most agreeable (+plate+ 36), is seen represented by his
side.
I have much to see of these people yet, and much consequently to write;
so for the present I close my book.
[1] Several years since writing the above, I held a conversation
with Major Pilcher (a strictly correct and honourable man, who was
then the agent for these people, who has lived amongst them, and is
at this time superintendent of Indian affairs at St. Louis), who
informed me, much to my surprise, that the Blackfeet were not far
from 60,000 in numbers, including all the confederacy of which I
have just spoken.
LETTER—No. 9.