United States. This treaty was ratified at the Portage des Sioux, the 26th December 1815. Arkansas, or Kanzas.-This nation live in two villages on the river Kansas, the one situated at the distance of twenty, the other at forty leagues from its junction with the Missouri. According to Major Pike, their population is as follows: Number of individuals, 1565; of women, 500; of children, 600; of warriors, 465. The last are estimated by Dr Sibley at 250 only. In language, manners, and habits, the Arkansas so resemble the Osages, that they are supposed to have a common origin. They were formerly attached to the French, with whom they united against the Chickasaws. Before their defeat by the Panis, the white traders, to avoid their depredations, ascended Grand river, by a circuitous course, to the country of the Mahas. They cultivate corn, beans, and pumpkins, and carry on a trade at the Arkansas port in skins and furs, of which the annual amount is nearly 5000 dollars. This nation lately entered into a treaty with the United States, at St Louis, the 28th October 1815, for the purpose of re-establishing peace and friendship, and putting themselves under the protection of the United States. Ottos, also known by the name of Wadooktodas, live on the south side of the Platte river, fifteen leagues from its junction with the Missouri. Their number is about 400, of whom sixty are warriors. They inherit the enterprising and warlike qualities of their ancestors, the ancient Missouris, and still preserve the lofty and sonorous language of that tribe. Stewart and his party, on their return from the Pacific Ocean, in 1812, were first informed of the war between England and the United States by the Otto chiefs, who remarked, that the Shawanese prophet had sent a wampum belt, inviting them to join against the Americans, and that they had dispatched a messenger with the decision of their council, "that it was more profitable to catch bears with a trap." Mr Bradbury states, that they can muster 130 or 140 warriors, who, when he visited them in 1810, were in hostility with the Loup or Wolf Indians, the Osages and Sioux. The lands on which they live and hunt formerly belonged to the Missouris, who now live with them in a state of dependence. Missouris.-This once numerous and powerful nation consists now but of thirty families, and their thousands of warriors are reduced to eighty. They live in friendship with the Ottos, and under the protection of the Panis. Mahas.-They are about 800 in number, including 250 warriors, and live in a village on the Maha creek, a branch of the Missouri, 240 miles above the river Platte. They have generally manifested a friendly disposition towards the whites, with whom the exchange of articles has been valued at 7000 dollars a"Two-thirds of the nation were destroyed by year. the small-pox, in 1802. In stature they are inferior to the Osage, though several seemed to reach to six feet. Their hunting-ground is from their village to the river Qui Court. They cultivate corn, beans, melons, squashes, and a small species of tobacco.”—(Bradbury, p. 69.) In 1815, 20th July, they signed a treaty with the United States, of perpetual peace and friendship, placing themselves under their exclusive protection. Pawnees, or Panis.-This nation is divided into four bands, Pawnees Proper, Republican Pawnees, Wolf Pawnees, and Pawnees of Red river. According to Major Pike, the whole number is 6223; of warriors 1993; women, 2170; children, 2060.* The Pawnees Proper, with 400 warriors, reside in villages on the south side of the river Platte, about five leagues from the Ottos; the Republican tribe, with 350 warriors, at a small distance from the former; the Wolf Pawnees, with 300 warriors, on the Wolf river, about 100 miles from its mouth. According to Dr Sibley, the number of fighting men living on the Wolf fork of the Platte, is estimated at 1000, with a large proportion of women and children. He observes, that several branches of the same stock live on some of the waters of Red river, about 1000 miles above Natchitoches; that the tribes on the north bank of the Wolf fork of the Platte, about 100 miles from its outlet, form a village of 171 cabins, situated on a beautiful meadow. Two of them were driven, some years ago, from their residence on the north bank of the Kansas river, about fifty miles, north-north-west from the village of the Kansas. They are united under one chief, named Cheritanib, and live in great harmony. The Pawnees are at war with the Keetans, from whom they steal horses and mules. About half of the warriors have fire arms, with which they fight * Travels, &c. p. 134, of the London 4to edition, improper, as the people are not remarkable for corpu lency. They are about 2000 in number, including 500 warriors, and live in villages on Knife river, near the Mandans; but they sometimes wander far from home, along the southern branch of the Saskaskaum. Their language is different from that of the Mandans. The Awahawas, or Shoe Indians, are a branch of the Crow Indians, and live on the borders of the river Missouri, at the mouth of Knife river, three miles above the Mandan villages. Their number, including warriors, is about 300. They resemble the Mandans in appearance, but not in manners. Quehatsas, or Crow Indians.-They wander in bands near the sources of the Yellow Stone and Bighorn rivers, and sometimes cross the great chain of mountains. Their number is estimated to be about 3560, including 960 warriors. (Western Directory, p. 215.) In 1812, they had descended 200 miles, where they met Mr Robert Stuart and his party on their return from the Pacific Ocean, pursued the party during six days, and robbed them of all their horses. They trade with the British, but they begin to turn their views to the American factories lately established on Bighorn river. The Snake Indians, called by the Spaniards Camanches, by the Pawnees, Padoucas, or Tetans, live on the south-west side of the river Missouri, near the mountains, in several bands, and wander near the sources of the Platte river, and the extensive plains which border on New Mexico. They are badly armed; and, owing to their bad character among their neighbours, the other tribes condemn to slavery all those woy accident fall into their hands. Many of the female slaves were formerly sold to traders, and carried to Canada. They have flocks of horses, asses, and mules. Mr Stewart, returning from the Pacific Ocean, was supplied with a horse by a party of this tribe, which he brought as far as the Otto village. Their number, according to Major Pike, is 8200. The Chiens, Shawhays, or Dog Indians, are 1250 in number, of whom 300 are warriors. They were driven by the Sioux from Red river of Lake Winipec to the south side of the Missouri, near the Warriconne river, and thence to the sources of the Chien, where they now wander. They sometimes visit the Ricara villages for the purpose of trade, the annual value of which does not exceed 5000 dollars. This tribe furnished forty horses to the commercial expedition which proceeded in 1811 from St Louis to the Pacific Ocean. Towas, Ayawas, Nez Percé, or Pierced-Nosed Indians. They are descendants of the ancient Missouris. They live on the river De Moins, north of the Missouri, where they have two villages, but lead a wandering life. They are in alliance with the Sacs and Foxes. According to Major Pike, their number, including 300 warriors, 400 women, and 700 children, is 1400 individuals. * In September 1815, they engaged by treaty at the Portage des Sioux, to deliver to * See Pike's Travels, 4to Edition, London, p. 134. VOL. III. N n |