The device consists of thirty parallel black lines in three columns, the outer lines being united. In this chart, such black lines always signify the death of Dakotas killed by their enemies.
The Absaroka or Crow tribe, although classed by ethnographers as belonging to the Siouan family, has nearly always been at war with the Dakotas proper since the whites have had any knowledge of either. The official tables of 1875 give the number of Crows then living as 4,200. They are tall, well-made, bold, and noted for the extraordinary length of their hair.
No. III. Thirty Dakotas killed by the Gros Ventres Indians between Forts Berthold and Union, Dakota.
Mato Sapa’s record has nine inside strokes in three rows, the interpretation being that thirty Dakotas were killed by Gros Ventres between Forts Berthold and Union, Dakota.
Major Bush says the same, adding that it was near the present site of Fort Buford.
1801-’02.—No. I. Many died of small-pox.
No. II. The small-pox broke out in the nation. The device is the head and body of a man covered with red blotches.
No. III. All the Dakotas had the small-pox very bad; fatal.
Battiste Good’s record says: “Small-pox-used-them-up-again winter.”
White-Cow-Killer says: “All-sick winter.”