The Swiss artist, Friedrich Kurz, who painted many pictures of the region around Fort Union, lived with Denig for some time, and in 1851 painted his portrait.

The Indians called Mr. Denig “The Long Knife,” which simply meant that they knew him as “an American.”

In the manuscript Mr. Denig employs the word “band” to denote “a gens of a tribe,” the word “clans” to denote “societies” or “corporations,” and the “orders of doctors” he calls “shamans or theurgists.” To understand Mr. Denig these meanings must be kept in mind.

The Editor.


CONTENTS
Page
[Letter of transmittal][393]
The Assiniboin
[History][395]
[Origin][395]
[Name and geographical position][396]
[Ancient and modern habitat][397]
[Vestiges of early tradition][398]
[Names and events in history][399]
[Present rulers and condition][401]
[Intertribal rank and relations][403]
[Magnitude and resources of territory a cause of the multiplication of tribes][405]
[Geography][406]
[Figure of the globe][406]
[Local features of the habitat][406]
[Surface of the country][407]
[Facilities for grazing][408]
[Effects of firing the prairies][408]
[Waste lands][409]
[Effects of volcanic action][409]
[Saline productions][409]
[Coal and mineral products][410]
[Climate][410]
[Wild animals][410]
[Ancient bones and traditions of the monster era][411]
[Animals used as armorial marks][412]
[The horse][Era of importation][412]
[Pictographs][Charts on bark][412]
[Antiquities][413]
[Pipes][413]
[Vessels and implements][414]
[Astronomy and geology][414]
[Earth and its motions][414]
[The sun][415]
[The sky][415]
[Future life][Indian paradise][418]
[Arithmetic][418]
[Numeration][418]
[Coin][420]
[Keeping accounts][420]
[Elements of figures][421]
[Medicine][422]
[General practice][422]
[Depletion by bleeding][426]
[Stoppage of blood and healing art][427]
[Amputation][427]
[Theory of diseases and their remedy][428]
[Parturition][429]
[Government][430]
[Tribal organization and government][430]
[Chiefs][431]
[The Sndoo-kah, “Circumcised”][434]
[Soldiers][436]
[Councils][446]
[Scope of civil jurisdiction][448]
[Chiefship][448]
[Power of the war chief][449]
[Power of the priests in council][450]
[Matrons in council][451]
[General councils][451]
[Private right to take life][452]
[Game laws, or rights of the chase][455]
[Indian trade][457]
[Education][466]
[Warfare][470]
[Property][474]
[Territorial rights][476]
[Primogeniture][478]
[Crime][479]
[Prayers][483]
[Prayer of warrior][483]
[Prayer to ghosts][484]
[The moon][484]
[Parental affection][485]
[Religion][486]
[Immortality][498]
[Mythology:] [Legends, tales][500]
[Manners and customs][503]
[Constitution of the Assiniboin family; kinship][503]
[Camp life][505]
[Courtship and marriage][510]
[Music][512]
[Longevity][513]
[Hospitality][513]
[Midwifery, childbirth, naming][516]
[Assiniboin personal names][518]
[Children][519]
[Suicide][522]
[Personal behavior][523]
[Scalping][524]
[Oaths][524]
[Smoking][524]
[Fame][525]
[Stoicism][525]
[Taciturnity][526]
[Public speaking][526]
[Travel][526]
[Senses][527]
[Jugglery and sorcery][528]
[Strength and endurance][529]
[Spirituous liquors][529]
[Hunting][530]
[Throwing buffalo in a park][532]
[Approaching buffalo][534]
[Deer hunting][536]
[Elk hunting][537]
[Grizzly bears][537]
[Beaver][538]
[Wolves and foxes][538]
[Instruction in hunting][542]
[Fishing][544]
[War][544]
[Costume of a warrior][553]
[Weapons][555]
[Dancing and amusements][556]
[Scalp dance][557]
[Brave’s dance][558]
[Fox dance][561]
[Duck dance][562]
[Bulls’ dance][562]
[Soldiers’ dance][562]
[White crane dance][563]
[Crow dance][564]
[Dance of the mice comrades][564]
[Whip dance][564]
[God-seeking dance][564]
[Women’s dance][564]
[Games][565]
[Racing][566]
[Gambling][567]
[Death and its consequences][570]
[Orphans and the aged][576]
[Lodges][577]
[Canoes][579]
[Mental and ethical advancement][579]
[Medicine; drugs][581]
[Food][581]
[Garments; dresses][584]
[Ornaments][590]
[Paints and dyes][591]
[Tattooing][592]
[Badges of office][592]
[Beard][593]
[Intellectual capacity and character][593]
[Picture writing][603]
[Myth telling][607]
[Fables][609]
[Songs; music][617]
[Present condition and future prospects][620]
[Intermarriage with whites][625]
[Population][625]
[Language][625]
[Bibliography][627]
[Index][629]

ILLUSTRATIONS
PLATES
Page
[62.]Fort Union as it appeared in 1833[394]
[63.]Edwin Thompson Denig and Mrs. Denig[394]
[64.]Drawings by an Assiniboin Indian[414]
[65.]Culinary utensils[414]
[66.]Characteristic implements of the Assiniboin[414]
[67.]a, Comb root; b, Cat-tail[414]
[68.]The calumet and its accompaniments[446]
[69.]A buffalo park or “surround”[532]
[70.]An Assiniboin running a buffalo[532]
[71.]Scalp dance[558]
[72.]Coo-soo´, or game of the bowl[558]
[73.]The Chun-kan-dee´ game[578]
[74.]A lodge frame and a completed lodge[578]
[75.]The interior of a lodge and its surroundings[578]
[76.]An Assiniboin stabbing a Blackfoot[578]
[77.]Map of region above Fort Union[606]
[78.]Diagram of a battle field[606]
[79.]Diagram of a battle field[606]
[80.]Musical instruments[606]
TEXT FIGURES
[30.]Lancet[426]
[31.]Diagram of a council lodge[437]
[32.]Cradle board[519]
[33.]Tool for fleshing the hide[540]
[34.]Tool for scraping hides or shaving the skin[541]
[35.]Picture writing[603]

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL