The travels of Capts. Lewis and Clarke from St. Louis, by way of the Missouri and Columbia rivers, to the Pacific ocean; performed in the years 1804, 1805 & 1806, by order of the government of the United States. Containing delineations of the manners, customs, religion, &c. of the Indians, comp. from various authentic sources, and original documents, and a summary of the Statistical view of the Indian nations, from the official communication of Meriwether Lewis. Illustrated with a map of the country, inhabited by the western tribes of Indians

Citation preview

,^;

YBB.

TRAVELS Of

CAPTS. LEWIS & CLARKE, VtQM ST,

LOUIS,

MY

WM OF TMB UIB80VM AND i^OtUMBId TO THE

.

Jtrl Sttt,

y^t.t-

PACIFIC OCEAN; nXFOMiriO IV THB TXARS

,

1804,

Wi6,

k 1806,

•T oasKR oi rat

GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES. «

CONTAtiriNO

DELINEATIONS OF THE MANNERS, CUSTOMS, RELIGION, &c. iSDf

tDe ^tUrtatifif, COMVItlO taoM

Various Authentic Sowreet, and Original DoeumeHtff

A SUMMARY OF THE STATISTICAL VIEW OP THE INIHAliijr NATIONS, ^

JPBOM THK 0,VfIOlAL COMMUMIpAXIOIl OV

MERIWEtHER LEWIS. JUuttrated nith a

Map tf the Country^

inktAUed by the

Wettem Tribee 9f tndUmf*

LONDON: VRIKTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST; REE8, 4N|lj||RM^ PATERNOSTER ROW. 1809.

\^:,-'fe' 1,

•Mmiuttl-

ft I'tl

niiamutm^:.

.J

Printed by C. Slower, P«terno6ter«Rowt London.

*0i'«

-

MESSAGE

»

• •

.

,

TROM.THE PRESIDENT, TO THE SENATE JkMD HOUSE OV KEPRESENTATIVES OP THE UNITED STATES.

In

pursuance of a measure proposed to* Congress by a

message of January 18th, one thousand eight hundred and three,

and sanctioned by their approbation for carrying

it

into execution. Captain Meriwether Lewis, of the Istregi^

ment of

was appointed with a party of men

infantry,

explore the river Missouri, from

its

mouth

to

to its source,

and, crossing the highlands by the shortest portage, to seek the best water communication thence to the Pacific ocean;

and Lieutenant Clarke was appointed second in command.

They were to^enter into conference with the Indian nations on their rou'Ce, with a view to the establishment of comentered the Missouri

May *four-

teenth, one thousand eight hundred and four,

and on the

merce with them.

first

They

of November took up their winter quarters near the

Mandan

towns, 1,609 miles above the mouth of the

iver,

in latitude 47 deg. 21 min. 47 sec. north, and longit; d«

99 deg. 24 min. 56

sec.

west from Greenwich.

eighth of April, one thousand eight hundred and

On

the

they

five,

proceeded up the river in pursuance of the objects prescribed lo

them.

A letter of the preceding day,

Captain Lewis, stay

among

the

is

April seventh,

herewith communicated.

from

During

his

Mandans, he had been able to lay down

^he Missouri, according to courses and distances taken on his passage up it, corrected by frequent observations of longitude and latitude; and to add to the actual survey of this ptortion of the river, a general

Q

-^ j

^9

'W

map of ,

the country between

Mississippi and Pacific, from the thirty-fourth to the

a

Y^ K ^

^

^' A^-

MRSSAGE.

iv fifty-fourth degrees

of

latitude.

These additions are from

infonnatioD collected from Indians with

whom he

had

opportunities of communicating, during his journey and residence with them.

also a Statistical

map

Copies of this

to both Houses of Congress.

With

are

now presented

these I

communicate

View, procured and forwarded by him, of

the Indian nations inhabiting the territory of Louisiana,

and the countries adjacent to ders; of their

its

northern and western bor-

commerce^ and of other

interesting circum-

stances respecting them.

TH. JEFFERSON. I.1

'*i

.'.,,

Y^^ .i\

'

INTRODUCTION.

;«

' :

'

V r^.i

.

«

>.'

The benefits From

from the discoveries of unknown

that arise

regions, are too

numerous

be here mentioned.

to

the knowledge of geography are derived

intrmsic advantages.

not only feasts the imagination

It

with the amusement of novel descriptions; but

commerce, whence the and a reciprocal It

cannot

many

arts

is

the

life

of

and sciences receive succour,

benefit.

fail

of giving pleasure to the philanthropic

mind, to behold implements of agriculture put

in

thfi

hands of the uncivilized barbarian, to provide and protect

him from the

precarious reliance

sustenance.

The

bability,

when

time

is

on the chase

not far distant, in

for a scanty

all

moral pro-

the uncultivated wilds of the interior part of

the Cohtinent, which

is

now

only inhabited by the tawney

sons of the forest, and the howling beasts of prey, will be

converted into the residence of the hardy votaries of agriculture,

who

cultivated,

will turn those sterile wildernesses into rich>

and verdant

fields.

INTRODUCTIOK.

VI It

may be

suggested, that the sufferings of the

rigines, ironi the importation of foreign

more

diseases,

Abo-

and the

more than

baneful influence of spirituous liquors^

counterbalance the benefits they receive from civilization.

These objections, powerful.

But

it

must be frankly confessed,

is

it

are very

hoped, that vigilant measures

will

be

I

pursued, by a government professed to be founded on the principles of

humanity and wisdom,

to prohibit the intro-

The

duction of spirituous liquors among them.

has raged,

them.

when

inoculation

was held with

or no communication

little

Provi«ions are already

made

among them, which

to

small-pox

introduce vaccine

will prevent those ho.rid

ravages that are mentioned in the course of the work.

may

It

be thought matter of surprise, that regions,

upwards of three thousand miles

in length, bordering

on a

country inhabited by an inquisitive and enterprising people,

who

could avail themselves of the benefit of a lucrative fur

trade, chould

Many

remain so long unexplored.

ments have retarded the

impedi-

open to view a

tour, that has laid

country hitherto hidden from the knowledge of the civilized ^American.

Attempts have been made by the great discoverer, Capt,

Cook,

to find a

communication by water

in the northern

Whether

regions between the Atlantic and'Pacific oceans.

the two great oceans are joined together in those regions

remains an uncertainty ; but the rigours of a evinced, that

though they joined,

it

frigid

zone

was impracticable to

navigate from one to the other.

To travel among

the Indians,

is

but too often thought

the road that inevitably leads the unfortunate adventurer to

an untimely death. proverbial

-,

but

in

The

barbarity of the Indians in war

is

time of peace, hospitality and humanity

are traits justly due to their character.

saying of an eminent

traveller

It is

among them,

a judicious

that

**

in

time

of peace no greater friends^ in time of war no greater enemies.

I

»»

^

tH

INTRODUCTION.

Before the acquisition of Louisiana by the United State), the jealous disposition of the Spaniards debarred tarcs for discoveries

the discoveries of the

made by a voyage by

western part of the continent, to be

way of Cape Horn, which would be too

and expensive

advcn-

from that quarter.

These impediments would compel the

all

long, arduous,

to entice the enterprize.

In the year 1769, the celebrated

Alexander

traveller

Mac-

kenzie embarked from Fort Chcpewyan, in latitude 38deg.

N.

longitude

uodeg. W. from Greenwich, and with

greatest fortitude,

under embarrassing and perilous

the cir-

cumstances, he explored with assiduity the northern region to nearly the 70th degree of north latitude,

where obstruc-

by ice, compelled him to return to Fort Chepewyan. Thence he ascended the Peace River to its source, and thence to the Pacific Ocean making many discoveries,

tion

;

which he judiciously narrated

The

in his Journal.

made by

the

Mis-

show

the advantages that arise from *'

The

commerce of

a gentleman, which wilj sufficiently

following statement of the

souri, is

it.

products which arc drawn from the Missouri, art

obtained from the Indians and hunters in exchange for

merchandize, ^^hey

may be

classed according to the sub*

4-

joined table.

d. c.

Castor

12281

1267 skins

Otters

Foxes

dols. sts.
t

AN ESTIMATE OF THE PRODUCE OF THE SEVERAL ^

MINES.

,

" Mine

a Burton ....550,000lbs.

mineral, estimated to pro-

duce 66§,

kad,

is

5 dollars,

at

18,333 33

is

To which add 30 dollars, 120,000

lbs.

*

336,6661 lbs.

(on

manufactured)

to each thousand,

3,600

is

— 21,933 33

« Old

Mines....800,000lbs. mi-

neral, estimated to

66},

5

.tf-

9 *«

•

,

!,

-.'

if

.«*>j»;k.

-

'«:

j;-.

i--

TRAVELS TO THt -.:v* .

" In ascending as high as the Kanzas

which side,

is

on the S. W. which was from five an hour, the bottom is extensive,

334 miles up the Missouri

we met a strong

to seven miles

river,

:

current,

and covered with timber, the high country is intersperseil with rich handsome prairies, well- watered, and abound

in deer

as the river Plate,

and bear;

in

ascending as high

we met a current

less rapid,

not

exceeding six miles an hour; in this distance we passed several small rivers on each side, which

w

lorater

prairie,

some as

finely diversified

between Vincennes and

bottoms continue wide, •sp

country, principally

.«».•

Illinois,

the

and covered with timber

# A&IONG THE INDIANS. rivet

)L\ns

is

about 6000 yards wide, at the mouth,

navigable;

lot ^ith

the

it

North

heads in the rocky mountains,

and Yellow Stone

river,

through an open country

>asses

;

river, ar.d

leagties

fifteen

ip this river the Ottoes and thirty Missouries live [in

one

and can

village,

higher

fifteen leagues

two hundred men the Paiieas and Panea

raise

uj>,

;

^Republicans live in one village, and can raise seven

mndred men

up the wolf fork of this in one village, and can

;

*pia Louisis live

[hundred and eighty tial

men

ruptures frequently

'dred

;

;

Pa-

raise

two

these Indians have par-

the river Plate

is

six hun-

and thirty miles up the Missouri on the

south west

Here we

side.

goat; the next river of

Stone

river,

river,

commonly

Little River Desious;

find the antelope or size ascending, is the

by the Ingaseix,

called

takes

it

its

in lake

rise

I

Dispice, fifteen miles from the river Demx)ir,

sixty-four yards wide

country.

;

The next by

here

note

commences is

and

is

the Sioux

the Big Sioux river,

which heads with the

St. Peters, and waters of some high wooded country; about ninety miles, still higher, the river Jacque falls on the same side, and about 100 yards wide;

lake

Winnepie, in

this river

at

heads -With the waters of lake Winnepie,

no great distance

of the river

Demon

Sioux rivers and

east

in Pelican lake,

sive fertile

and that *

much

plains,

little,

between the

Peters; the country on both

St.

sides of the Missouri

place has very

from the place, the head

from the

river Plate to that

the same appearance; exten-

containing but

little

principally confined to

'^

timber,

the river «^

|

NeV

14

bottoms and streams place,

and

off

river, contains

which are Glauber's

the country east of

;

from the Missouri as low

as Stone

many of much impregnated with

a number

said to be so

produce

salt as to

thi*

of small trees,

all its effects;

certain

below on the south-west side possesses

quality. I

'

that the water in the small streams from the*l

it is

hill

TllAVELS

About

Jacqua

the river

this

Bruff, the couni^f

i

try contains a great quantity of mineral, cobalt,

cinnabar, alum, copperas, and several other things; the stone coal which

Mill

different.

is

on the Missouri

very

is

Ascending fifty-two miles above

Quicum

Jacqua, the river

west side of

this river, is

falls

inthe^;^

in on the south-

1026 miles up, 150 yards

ill

wide, not navigable ; tains

it

heads in the black moun-

which run nearly

parallel to

from about the head of the Kanzas south-west of this place.

s

I;

the Missouri

river,

Quicum

ken country 122 miles by water higher. White River falls in on the south-west side, and is 300 yards wide, and navigable, as all the other streams are which are not particularly mentioned; this river heads in some small lakes, short of the black mountains. The Mahan and Poncan nations rove on the heads of this river and the Quicum, and 250 men; they

can

raise

few

years ago,

M'ere

very numerous

W

a

but the small pox and the Sioux

have reduced them to their present (Hi

and ends|

waters a bro-|

Sioux possess the

south-west of

the

state;

the

Missouri,

above White River, 132 miles higher, and on the

I

west side.

i

heads in the open plains; here

Teton

river falls into

it,

it is

small, and

we met

a large

i

AMONG THE INDIANS.

15

and the second which we had called Tetons; these are rascals, and may be

ind of Sioux, ?en,

termed the pirates of the Missouri they lade two attempts to stop us; they are subdi-

Listly

[ided

;

and stretch on the

near

river

to

this

having reduced the Racres and Mandans, nd driven them from the country they now oc-

ilace,

The Sioux bands rove in the country to the About forty-seven miles above the i'eton river, the Chyanne river falls in from the *'

[ississippi.

)uth-west,

4000 yards wide,

(lack mountains, in which

third range; several

le

fnown, rove •late,

c;i

is

it

navigable to the takes

in

rise,

its

bands of Indians

biit little

the head of this and the river

and are stated

to be as follows

:

Chaoenne

men; Staetons 100; Canenaviech 400; Cay[nwa and Wetahato 200; Cataha seventy; Deime thirty; Memesoon fifty; Castahana 1300 it is probable that some of those bands are len ^00

-

;

remains of the Padoucar nation

le

at 1440 miles

;

the Missouri, (and a short distance above

ip

landsome

rivers

which

lountains,) the Kicaras live in three villages,

and

the remains of ten different tribes of Paneas,

[re

rho have

been reduced and driven from

lountry lower

down by

the Sioux;

their

about 500 men, they raise corn, beans, )pear friendly [ar [e

two

take their rise in the black

their

number &c. and

and well-disposed; they were at

with the nations of this neighbourhood, and

have brought about peace.

id this place,

two

Between the Recars

rivers fall in

on the south*

•*

and one on the north-east, not tery long, and take their rise in the open country; this country abounds in a great variety of wild animals, but a tvcsl,

few of which the Indians take; many of those animals arc uncommon in the United States, such and grey bears ; long eared mules,

as white, red

or black

tail deer,

(black at the end of the

tail

only) large hares, antelope or goat; the red fox; the gronnd praitie dugs,

(who burrow

in

the

ground ) the braroca, which has a head Kke a dog,

and the

size

of a small dog

the white brant,

;

magpie, calumet eagle, &c., and many others arc

*?

*'said to inhabit **

the rocky mountains.

have collected the following account of the

I

and country

rivers

advance of this, to wit

in

;

two

days march, in advance of this, the Little Missouri falls

on the south

side,

and heads at the Narth-

west extremity of the black mountains; six days

march

further, a

affording as river

is

large river joins the Missouri,

much water

rapid,

without a

as the fall,

main

river.

This

^nd navigable

to the

rocky mountains, hs branches head with the waters

11! 1

1

of the river Plate; the country in advance

is

'i -,

said to be broken.

"T^'he trade of the nations at this place

the north west, ii ^

is

from

and Hudson's Bay establishments,

on the Asksinneboin river, distant about one hundred and fifty miles those traders are nearly at ;

open war #ith each other, and betted calculated

toj

destroy than proftiote the happiness of those nationi, to

which

tliey

haV^

latterly ie^tei^ed their «*

*r^ •ii

-^.

I

AMONG THE

INDIANS.

17

form an establisliment near

trade, iand ihtend to

this place in the course of this year. **

Your most **

Obedient servant, «'

Wrj. Clark." .-;

Letter from Capt. Clark to his Brother, *

St. Louis,

23d Sept. 1806.

,

"dear brother, *^We

arrived at this place at twelve o'clock to

day, from the Pacific Ocean, where

during the

near the entrance of the

last winter,

Columbia

river.

of March

last,

we remained

This station

we

left

on the 27th

and should have reached

early in August, had

we

St.

not been detained by the

Rocky

snow, which barred our passage across the

Mountains

until the

Loujs

24th of June.

In returning

through these mountains, we divided ourselves into several parties,

which we went to

digressing from the route

out, in order the

more

by

effectually

explore the country, and discover the most

practicable route

by

tinent,

which does

exist across the con-

the v/ay of the Missouri and

Columbia

we were completely successful, and have theretbre no hesitation in declaring, thit, such as nature has permitted, we have discovered rivers

:

in this

the best route which does exist across the conti-

nent of North America that

by way

in that direction.

Such

is

of the Missouri to the foot of the

Rapids, below the great

falls

of that

river,

a dis-

tance of two thousand, five hundred and seventyfive miles,

thence by land, passing by the

Rocky

*

't'

Id

VEVir

TRAVCU

Mountains to a navigable part of the Kooskoosk^, three hundred and forty ; and with the Kooskooske Lewis's riVer one hundred

seventy-three miles,

and

fifty-four miles,

and

this

Columbia four hun-

cred and thirteen miles, to the Pacific ocean, mak-

ing the

total distance,

from the confluence of the

Missouri and Mississippi, to the discharge of the

Columbia five

into the Pacific

hundred and

oce^, three thousand

The navigation

fifty-five miles.

of the Missouri may be deemed good culties arise

ded

from

mud

in the

its

of

;

its ciiffi-

falling banks, timber

its

channel,

imbed-

sand bars, and

its

which may be overcome with a great degree of certainty, by the steady rapidity of

its

current, all

The passage by

using the necessary precautions.

land of three hundred and forty miles, from the falls

of the Missouri to the Kooskooske,

is

the

most formidable part of the track proposed across

Of

the continent. hiiles is

this

distance,

two hundred

along a good road, and one hundred and

forty miles over tremendous mottniains, which for sixty miles are covered with eternal snows.

passage over these mountains ,*

is,

A

however, prac-

^-^f*

June to the last of and the cheap rate at which horses

ticable from the latter part of

September

;

are to be obtained from the Indians of the "Rocky

Mountains, and the west of them, reduces the expenses of transportation over this portage to a

mere

The

trifle.

Lewis's

river,

from the

first

by making

navigation of the Kooskooske,

and the Columbia,

is

safe

and good,

of April to the middle of August,

three portages on the latter river

;

the

AMONG ftrst

of which, in descending,

paces at the

falls

sixty one miles

19

THi; INDIANS. is

twelve hundred

of Columbi^^ t\vo hundred and

up

tli^t river

;

the second of two

miles at the long narrows, six miles below the

and a

falls,

third, also

Rapids, sixty-five miles

of two miles, at the great still

The

lower down.

tide

up the Columbia one hundred and eightythree miles, and within seven miles of the great

flows

•

Large sloops may with safety ascend us

Bapids.

high as the tide water; ^nd vessels ofSOO tons burthen reach the entrance of the Multnomah

river,

a largreho

and to invite them to if

own weapons;

their hearts failed in this

he was himself wady to perform

the deed of mercy with his

own

hand, as the

act of his affection, and instantly follow M^-

the chambers of death."* destitute

ex-

haffie

plunging themselves into discovery of the disease,

them

The Xndians

of ^%^icia;>f, living on

rendered

on the

it

to

ibeingi

£r;}ii»a//b(M/,

cold wattr,

iast

and first!

generally

mortal.

i 'M

m

TV

^

While we were at Fort Mandan the Sioux robbed several of our party when they were returning to the after

fort,

with the fruits of an. excursion!

game ; and murdered

several of the

Mandan

tribe in cold blood, without provocation, while|

'reposing

of

on the bosom of friendship.

this massacre. Captain

'part

On hearing

Clark and the greater

of us volunteered to avenge the murder

A Wfstwti Traveller*

;

butj

;

W

AMONG THE INDIANS,

deterred by not receiving succour from the

refe

fandan warriors;

who

declined to avenge the

The probable

)utrage committed on them.

much

afraid of the superior

rea-

#:• '

number of

the Sioux

venture an engagement.

Soon«fter

tliis

massacre,

[intelligence, that the

Ition (if their threats

we

received authentic

Sioux had

it

in contempla-

were true) to nuirder us in

but were prevented from making the by our threatening to spread the small pox,

the spring [attack, I

'

of their not enlisting was, that they were too

[son

[f

by the smart of the wound, stimulated into rage, and rushed with great

jeing intimidated, j;vas

fury to

devour the assailant

running headlong

)y

down

;

who

saved his

life

a steep precipice, that

formed the bank of the river; but was severely jruised

by

this precipitate retreat.

The following snake, [an is

be

is

he related **

Fort

told

on

relied

it

narrative of an encounter with

by a companion, whose veracity ;

in

I will

give

it

in his

own

words,

a letter to his friend.

Some time," says he, before we reached Mandan, while I was out on an excursion of

[unting, 'One

**

of the greatest monsters that ever

locked the miiid with horroy was presented to

M

my

tat

-

VhW TRAVKLS

30

When passing

sight.

bordered on a

deliberately in a forest 6iat

prairie,

I heard a rustling in the

bushes; I Jeaped towards the objectj delighted the prospect of acquiring game.

"with

my

proceeding a few paces further,

size;

on discovering me, he immediately

erected his head to a great height

his colour was

;

of a yellower hue than the spots of a

and on the top of colour as .>

.

;

.

t.-,

his

rattle snake,

back were spots of a reddish

his eyes emitted

his tongue darted,

fire,

my

though he menaced

He was

destruction.

evidently in the attitude of springing at me, when I levelled

:!i

blood was

by the appearance of a serpent of an enor-

chilled

mous

But on

my

my

rifle

at

him

;

but probably owing

to

wounded him ; but the gun and the wound turned to

consternation, I only

:V

explosion pf the *•%•;

enemy.

;flight the 'awful

rthat

my

fright

may

Perhaps you

think,

magnified the description.

hafi

i

I|

fcan candidly aver, that he was in bulk half as large |

cas

a middle sized man."

In th^ Indian

tribes ,there is so great a similarity

in their stature, colour, government, and

ous tenets that

it

will

be requisite for

to rank them under one general there it will

is

are all (except the

stature, straight,

^

religi-

perspicuity,!

And when

liead.

a contrast in the course of the description *

be mentioned.

Tbey

I

Snake Indians)

and robust

;

is

it

they are deformed, which has given position,, that

children,

very

rise

tall

inl

seldoni|

to the sup-

they put to death their deformed!

which

a copper colour,

is

fiot the case.

Their skin

their eyes large, black,

is of?

and of a

AMaNG THE

INDIANS.

31

bright and sparkling colour, indicative of a subtle iand discerning mind. colour,

dom

Their

hair, is

and prone to grow long,

str?ugbt,

and

I

never observed any decayed

which makes

English women, and

which

is

among tbero,

their breath as sweet as the air they

The women

inhale.

sel-

and

or never curled; their teeth are large

white.

are about the stature of the

much

inclined to corpulency,

seldom the case with the other sex.

I shall not enter into a discussion

of their hue.

I shall barely

tions that are

made

[serted, that it is

about the cause

mention the supposi-

respecting

Some have

it.

derived principally from

to prevent profuse

perspiration,

as*

their

summer

Unointing themselves with fat in the son,

of the same

sea-

and

this,

combined with the influence of the sun, has given the tincture of their complexion.

To support

the

hypothesis they assert, that the above-mentioned

who

causes repeated, give colour to the parent, procreates his entailed

on

own

^Mt:

likeness, until at length it is

posterity.

But notwithstanding

this

curious reasoning, others are of opinion, that the

S:-^-

hand of the Creator gave the reddish hue to the Indians, the sable 'colour to the African, and that of white to the civilized nations.

They esteem a beard exceedingly unbecoming, [and take great pains to get rid of

it,

nor

is

there

ever any to be perceived on their faces, except

when they grow

old and

become

inattentive to

Every crinose excrescence ou |thcir appearance. other parts of their body is held in as great abhorrence

by them, and both sexes

are ecjually careful

59

NEW TRAVELS

'

to extirpate

it,

in

whicU they often employ "much

*^^

time.

The

PaHptepallors,

Mandan, and pluck them out

Serpentine,

other interior tribes of Indians,

-(•

iM

1^4]

with bent pieces of hard wood, formed into a

made for that purpose; while those that have a communication with Americans or Europeans, procure from them wire, which t'liey ingeniously make into an instrument resemkind of nippers,

bling a screw, which will take so firm a hold of the beard, that with a sudden twitch they extir-

pate

never '^-

by the

it

roots,

fails to flow.

The

when considerable blood '

.

dress of the Indians varies according to

tribe they

belong to; but in general

it

is

thfc

made

very commodious, not to incumber them in pursuing the chace, or their enemy; those that inhabit the Missouri, I have often seen, in cold weather, «*-

without any apparel to screen themselves

from the inclemency of the weather.

The lower

rank of the Pallotepallors and Clatsops, wear nothing in the summer season, but a small garment v-'Y^

about their

hips,

which

is

either manufactured out

of bark or skins, and which would vie with, excel,

if not |

any European manufacture, being diverSi

sified J

with different colours, which give

appearance.

it

a gay

Their kings are generally dressed

in

robes made out of small skins, (which take several

hundred

for a

garment) of different colours, neatly

tanned; these they hang loosely over their shoulders.

In deep snows they wear skins that entirely

01

tH 01 pll

AMONG THE INDIANS.

and almost answer for being held up by strings tied to the

cover their legs and breeches,

33

fe^t,

Their ^bodies, in the

lower part of their waist.

winter season, are covered with different kinds of

they wear next to the skin.

who wish

to appear

small locks as fancy dictates,

of

different kinds

plumage superbly

who

traffick

Those of the men, others, pluck

more gay than

out the greatest part of their it':

which

tanned with the fur on,

skins, that arc

quills,

hair,

leaving only

on which are huug

and feathers of elegant

pairited.

The Sioux and

Osages,

with the Americans, wear some of

our apparel, such as shirts and blankets; the for*

mer they cannot bear tied at the wristbands and collats, and the latter they throw loosely over their shoulders.

Their chiefs dress very gay:

about their heads they wear

all

kinds of ornaments

that can well be bestowed upon them, which are curiously wrought, and in the winter long robes

of the richest

fur, that trail

on the ground.

In the summer there that

is no great i ^culiarity, onljr what the higher rank wear is excessively or-

namented.

^

The Indians green, red,

ornamental.

paint their heads

and faces

yellow^,

and black; which they esteem very

They

also paint themselves

wheA

make use of which they em-

they go to war; but the method they

on

this occasion differs

from that

ploy merely for decoration.

The Chipaway young men, who

ar6

excelling their companions in finery,

emulous of slit

the out-

ward rim of both ears; at the same time they take

NEW TRAVELI

34

care not to separate them entirely, but leave the flesh thus cut, still

around

this

untouched at both extremities,

spungy substance, from the upper

the lower part; they twist brass wire .

to

the weight draws the amputated rim in a bow of five or six inches diameter, and drags it down almost to the shoulder.

This decoration

till

esteemed gay and

is

becoming. It

is

noses, sorts.

also a

custom among them ta bore their

and wear

them pendants of

in

Shells are often worn,

different

which when painted

are reckoned very ornamental.

^.The Indians iana,

make

who

inhabit the borders of Louis-

for their legs a kind

either of skins or cloth; these are

much '

sewed up

as

as possible in the shape of their leg, so as

to admit of being

u

of stocking,

drawn on and

ofF; the

edges of

the stuff of which they are composed, are

left

annexed to the seams, and hang loose about the breadth of a hand; and this part, which is placed

on the outside of the leg,

m

is

generally ornamented

with lace and ribbons, and often with embroidery and^ porcupine

hunters from Louisiana find these stockings

more convenient than any

made of the

The

quills variously coloured.

much

others. Their shoes are

skins of deer or elk; these, after be-

ing dressed with the hair on, are cut into shoes,

and fashioned so

I

as to be easy to their feet,

and

The edges round

the

convenient for walking,

f ancle

are decorated with pieces of brass or tin,

fi:!^ed

round a leather string about an inch long,

F

U

ii*.>.

AMONG THE

55

INDIANS.

which being placed very thick, make a ;very pleasing noise when they walk or dance. .^^

The

dress of the

women

in the

down

to their knees.

made

season,

that does not reach

Consists only of a petticor'

shift,

summer

In the winter they wear a

of skins,

which answers a very good

purpose when they stand erect, as

it is

sufficiently

when they stoop they often put modesty to the blush. Their feet and legs are covered in a manner similar to the other sex. Must of the female Indians who dwell on the low; but

west side of the Mississippi, near

its

confluence

with the Missouri, decorate their heads by enclosing their hair in plates of silver; these are costly

ornaments, and used by the highest rank only.

Those of the lower rank make use of bones,

which they manufacture

The

ver.

silver

to resemble those of sil^

made use of

formed into thin

is

plates of about four or five inches broad, in several

of which they confine their

which

is

nearest to the head

hair.

is

Tliat plate

of considerable

width; the next narrower, and made so as to pass a ^ittle

way under

the other, and 'so gradually

tapering until they get to a very considerable nitude.

mag:

#t

This decoration proves to be of great expense, for they often

wear

it

on the back part of the

head, extending to the full length of their hair,

which

is

commonly irlty

The women of evefy

%

long.

nation generally paint a

spot against each ear, about the size of a crown

*

% vtfr

56 piece

tHaveU

some of them paint

;

their hair

and some-

times a spot on the middle of their forehead.

Indians have no fixed habitations

The

they are hunting ; directs

but build where conveniency

their houses are

:

admit one to stand erect,

Those that

dows.

when

made and

so

low

as not to

are without win-

are built for a

permanent

resi-

dence are much more substantial ; they are made

and bark, large enough to contain several apartments. Those built fol* their chiefs are often That of the chief warrior of the very elegant. Mahas, is at least sixty feet in circumference, and of logs

lined with furs rious colours,

and painting. The furs are of vamany of which I had never seen

and were extremely beautiful the variety formed a contrast that much added to its elegance. The paintings were elegant, and would adorn the dwellings of an opulent European before,

i

in colour

prince.

But the houses of the common people are

but very indifferent. ' '

They have

also

moveable houses, which they

use for fishing, and sometimes for hunting,

of deer

skins, or birch

made

bark sewed together, which

they cover over poles made for the purpose ; they are bent over to form a semicircle, resembling

those bent by the Americans for beans or hops to grow on, and are covere

as the

use of feasting as a sub«

§(itute.

When

tl)eir

chiefs are assembled together

on

^ny occasion, they always conclude with a feast, at which their hilarity and cheetfiilness know no

^,^.

bounds.

No and

people on

e^^rth are

more

than the Indians.

free,

share with any of their

own

hospitable, kind,

*^''j

The'y %viU readily tribe,

and even with

those of a different nation, the last part of their

Though

they do not keep one com-

stock, yet that

community of goods, which

provisions.

mon is

so prevalent

among them, and

dispositions, render

it

their generous

nearly of the same effect.

They strike fire by rubbing together wood, of a particular kind, which will with ease eyre

:

from other kinds

it is

impossible to pro-

are extremely circumspect

word and action

in every

intp any Intemperate tp their enemies, breast,

;

and deliberate

nothing hurries them

wrath, but that inveteracy

which

is

rooted in every Indian's

and never can be eradicated.

i|ist9uc.es

In

all

other

they are cool and deliberate, taking care

to suppress the amotions of the heart.

tiS

yield it

it.

They

4iai)

sticks of

If an In-

has discovered that a friend of his

is in

dan^-

g€r of being cut off by ii^^^ing enemy, he does

npt t^U hin> of his dangertiilirect terms, as though lie were in ffiar, but he j^rst coolly asks him which iv^y he

is

^itli the

going th^t day, and having his answer,

^amp indifer^nc^ ^llsl^inL

t)iat

be

hs^f

f:>

AMONG THE INPIAWS.

41

a noxious beast lies on he route he is going, which might probably do lim mischief. This hint proves sufficient, and his that

informed,

^een

danger with as

[riend avoids the

much

caution, as

[hough every design and motion of his enemy had leen pointed out to hiui.

This apathy often shews ,'ould call forth

itself,

on occasions that

the favour of a susceptible heart,

^n Indian has been absent from his family for leveral months, either on a war or hunting party, if

md

and children meet him at some

his wife

dis-

tance from his habitation, instead of the afF'.ctionsensations that naturally arise in the breast

^te

jore refined beings, gratulations,

and give

rise to

of

mutual con-

he continues his course without look-

ing to the right or left; without paying the least ittention to those

louse

:

the same; perhaps

lo

ielates to

lim

he arrives at his

sits

pipe; those of his friends

lis

till

down, and with as much unif he had not been absent a day, smokes

he there

oncern as

around him,

it is

who

followed him,

several hours before

them the incidents that have

during

his absence,

befallen

though perhaps he has

a father, a brother, or a son dead on the

|eft

whose

loss

he

field,

he ought to have lamented) or has been

Successful in the

undertaking that called him from

home.

lis

If an Indian has bee^ engaged for several days the chase, or

any other laborious expedition,

by accident continued long without food, 'hen he arrives at the hut of a friend, where he

|nd

^nows that his w^nts \yiU be immediately supplied^

.3^

-fw»r.

NEW TBAVEIS

43

*

he takes care not to shew the least symptoms of impatience, or betray the extreme hunger that he

is

tortured with; but, on being invited in,

sits

contentedly down, and smokes his pipe with as

much composure

as if his appetite

he was perfectly at ease;

among to

by every

titude,

he does the same

This custom

strangers.

tribe, as

was cloyed, and

they esteem

it

a proof of

and think the reverse w(^uld

an Indian,

tell

entitle

for-

them

women.

to the appellation of old

If you

if

adhered

is strictly

that his children have

greatly signalized themselves against an enemy,

have taken many

and brought home many

scalps,

he does not appear to

prisoners,

feel

emotions of pleasure on the occasion generally

very

is, **

little

they have done

well,*'

;

any strong his

answer

and makes but

enquiry about the matter; on the con-

you inform him that his children are slain or taken prisoners, he makes no complaints, he only replies, '* it is unfortunate," and, for some time, trary, if

how

asks no questions about

This seeming indifference,

it

happened.

however,

does not

proceed from a suppression of the natural affections, i

for,

I

notwithstanding they are esteemed savages,

never saw

of

filial

among any

tenderness

;

other people greater proofs

and although they meet

their

wives after a long absence with the stoical indifference just mentioned, they are not, in general,

void of conjugal affection.

Another peculiarity of paying their

is

*'

observable in the manner If an Indian goes to

visits.

a particular person

-

ii|

visit

a family, he mentions to

a:

AMONO THE

4J

INDIANS.

and the

of the

rest

ptoms of

Mfhom

iger that

family immediately retire to the other end of the

and are careful not to come near enough to interrupt them during the whole conversation. The same method is pursued when a hut or

;d in, sits

with as

e

oyed, and

same

;

m

woman

pay his addresses to a young

to

but then he must be careful not to

;

let

love be the subject of his discourse, whilst the day-

)of of fortitle

tent,

young man goes

if

y adhered

his visit is intended,

them

light remains.

*

They discover an amazing sagacity, and acquire any thing that depends

dren have

Avith the greatest readiness

n enemy, ome many ny strong

and an acute observation, they attain many perfections, to which Americans are strangers. For

upCii the attention of the mind.

answer

lis

By

experience,

which

27 will cross a forest or a plain,

instance

two hu

makes but

is

n the con-

great exactness the point at which they intend to

;n

arrive,

are slain

Its,

he only

some

a direct

time,

this

:d miles in

«

breafclth,

so as to reach with

keeping during the whole of that space in line,

they

will

without any material deviations; and

do with the same

let the

ease,

wea-

ther be fair or cloudy.

[1.

With equal acuteness they

does not

part of the heavens the sun

affections;

by clouds or

will

is in,

point to that

though

it

be in-

jd savages,

tercepted

ater ])roofs

able to pursue, with incredible facility, the traces

meet

of man or

their

this

oical indif-

manner

nature,

on

leaves or grass

;

m

and on

with great difficulty a flying »-

talents,

but to an extraordinary

not only to

command

of the

which can only be acquired by an unremitted attention, and by long expeintellectual faculties,

oes to visit

nentions to

it is

enemy escapes discovery. * ^ They are indebted for these

in general,

the

beast, either

account

fogs. Besides this, they are

rience.

.

u. 'm=^

NEV TRAVELS

44 "-

They

are in general very

They can

memory.

happy

recapitulate every particular

that has been treated of in council, tlie

of

in a retentive

and remember

exact time when they were held.

wampum

Their

preserve the substance of the treaties

they have concluded with the neighbouring for ages back, fer,

belts

with as

which they

to

much

will appeal

perspicuity

and

tribes,

and

readiness,

re-

sai

as

em

Europeans can to their written records.

Every nation pays great respect to old age. The advice of a father will never receive any extraordinary attention from the young Indians; pro-

bably they receive

they

will

it

with only a bare assent

;

but

tremble before a grandfather, and sub-

mit to his injunctions with the utmost

The words of the

alacrity.

ancient part of their community

are esteemed by the

young as oracles. If they take, any game that is reckoned by them uncommonly delicious, it is immediately during hunting

parties,

presented to the eldest of their relations.

They never suffer themselves to be overburdened with care

;

but

live in

a state of perfect tranquillitv

and contentment, being naturally indolent.

It

provisions, just sufficient for their subsistence, can

be procured with they

will

pains for

not go it,

and near

trouble,

far,

or take any extraordinary

though by so doing

quire greater plenty, "and of a

kind.

at hand,

little

-'-'*

Having much leisure indolence to which they

tliey

estimable '••*•

they indulge

are so prone,

^nd rambling about ^mopg

ac-

more

'''--^''

time,

might

their tents,

tliis

by sleeping ^ut when

45

AMONG THE INDIANS |nccessity obliges

ire

them

an enemy,

)ppose

to take the field,

or

[their activity

they

procure food,

to

Many

and indefatigable.

alert

either to

on these occasions,

instances of

will be

given

Iwhen we treat of their wars.

The

greatest blemish in their character,

is

that

savage disposition, which impels them to treat their

with a severity, that every other nation

enemies shudders

at.

with

those

But

if tliey are

whom

thus barbarous to

they are at

and humane

jfriendly, hospitable,

they are

^ar,

in peace.

It

may

pvith truth be said of them, that they are the worst

^nemies, and the best

friends,

of any people in the

rorUL

\^r

.

They are,

,

^

in general, strangers to the passion

of

and brand a man with folly that is disof his wife. Among some tribes the very

jealousy, trustful

Idea

is

not known

peir young larried

men very

women, nor do

ray of solicitations leral,

as the

;

are

:

most abandoned of

rarely attempt the virtue

of

these put themselves in the

yet, the

Indian

women

of an amorous disposition

;

in ge-

and before

|hey are married, are not the less esteemed for the

Indulgence of their passions.

The

Indians, in their

gers to all

^rticles

of domestic use,

ders as his iit.

id

common

state, are stran-

distinction of property, except in the

which every one consi-

own, and increases

They

as circumstances ad-

are extremely liberal to each other;

supply the deficiency of their friends with any

iperfluity

of their own.

i«»i^ii'4,»^U

=ni

la dangers they readily give aasistanoe to those

%a^

NEW TRAVELS

4# of their band,

who

any expectation of

^

stand in need of

without

it,

return, except those just re-

wards that are always conferred by the Indians on Governed by tlie plain and equitable laws merit. of nature, every one deserts

and

;^

and

is

rewarded according to his

their equality

of condition, manners,

and sociable

privileges, with that constant

miliarity

which

nation^ animates spirit,

prevails throughout every Indian

them with a pure and

that tends to the general

It*

their children, those

possessed of the greate'st are

made

by them, and

as if they really

whom

to

who

are

|

number of prisoners, who

slaves, supply the deficiency

are adopted

."V

soci-

'^'^

•^'-

'

any of their neighbours are bereaved, by death,

by an enemy, of

or

patriotic

good of the

ety to which they belong. *•

fa*

;

and

these

treated in every respect

v%ere the children of the person

they are presented.

t

^

.

^^

.ir**; «

The Indians can form to themselves no idea of the value of money they consider it, when they are made acquainted with the uses to which it is

P^

;

applied by other nations, as the source of innumerable

evils.

To

they attribute

it

that are prevalent

all

among Europeans, such

They esteem

it irrational,

that one

Mi

should

be possessed of a greater quantity than another, and are

amazed that any hojaour should be annexed

the possession of it. ''^.

to

•^i^*'

But that the want of

this useless

metal should

be the cause of depriving persons of their

and that on the account of this particular

#

rea

igh

as trea-

man

liberty,

distribu-

rov

'i^.^

the mischiefs

chery, plundering, devastation, and murder. a

libs

Im

Ti icin

'SB

lem ith

idv

en lin^

ivii

47

AMONG THE INDIANS

[idians

on

>f

bis

manners,

^^

jciable fa-

ry Indian patriotic

1

which they constitute a

..

exceeds their be-

part,

on hearing this part of the United States' system of government related, to :harge the institutors of it with a total want of mmanity, and to brand them with the names of nor do they

lief;

able laws

ng to

dreary walls df a prison, cut off from society

le

justrc-

5

of it, great numbers should be shut up within

tion

without

lavages

and

fail,

brutes.

They show almost

lal

-^n

degree of irV^^^r-

j

ence for the productions oi

ftbe soci-|

When any of

art.

hese are shewn them, they say, "It

by

j^

ise

who and

;he

are

these

the person

[\

,

which

it

Isucb as trea-

if

you

tell is

them

.

skilled

hunting, can direct with unerring aim a gun, or

ith the situations

should

another, and to|

metal should their liberty,

make his

on a small quantity of

they are in raptures

;

they listen with

attention to the pleasing tale, and bestow the

ghest commendation on the hero of

They make but

it.

me|icine, and consequently have few diseases amongst em. ith

There

e

is

use of physicians and

little

seldom an Indian but that blooms

They have no

the appearance of health.

idwives

I

acquainted

of a country, and can

ibsisting during the time

ireat

f

is

ay without a guide through an immense forest,

rovisions,

order.

annexed

But

use.

its

is

[be mischiefs

man

of

about

neither can they form pro-

it,

canoe, understands the art of war,

of innume-

,

construction of

inquisitive

end with ease a bow; that he can dexterously work J

no idea of I when they I

s

and often are not

pretty, I like

person runs with great agility, that he

R

jevy respect •

it/*

er conceptions

who

,oner9, ;

look at

death,

is

among them

mother

is

;

and among several

tribes

without the assistance of any person

ing with her at the time of her delivery, not ^ving even a female attendant

ii">

lular distribu^i^^-'-'

M

''^vT*

»;

-V

NfiW TRAVELS

48

Soon

board, which soft it.

moss

To

of a child,

after the birth

:

tlie

is

h is

placed on a

covered with a skin stuffed with

child

is

laid

on

back, and tied to

its

these machines are fastened strings,

they hang them to branches of trees

;

by which

or, if they

do not find trees handy, they place them against

a

stump or stone while they dress the deer or fish, or do any domestic business. In this position they are kept until they are several

months

old.

When

taken out they are suffered to go naked, and

arc

which renders them

daily bathed in cold water,

yigorous and active.

An until

Indian child it

is

is

two years

generally kept at the breast

and sometimes, though

old,

rarely, a year longer.

The

Indians often occasion inflammatory dis

by excessive

eating, after a fast of three

or

four days, when retreating from, or pursuing

an

eases,

enemy.

.-''•

'':,;.m~,j

The inequality of

.

;^.-i

riches, the

disappointments

of

Mi

9^' Wis

^

ambition, and merciless oppressions, are not with

in

them exciting causes oi insanity. I made great inquiry, but was not able to learn, that a single case of melancholy or madness was ever known amon^

m

them.

The

dreadful havoc that the small-pox has madi

has necessarily been mentioned.

The mode of curing a spiration,

which

is

fever

confined iu a clos€ tent

iM w the patient being ^m to

is,

by profuse

per

the earth, in which red hot stones are placed;