[336] See p. [361], for illustration of a Blackfoot musical instrument.—Ed.
[337] This fort of Pilcher, built for the Missouri Fur Company about 1822, was about eleven miles above the mouth of Knife River, and named Fort Vanderburgh. Not proving profitable, it was maintained but a short time. See another mention in our volume xxiii, chapter xxiii.—Ed.
[338] See article by O. D. Wheeler, in Wonderland (1904), on the recent development of the lignite coal area of North Dakota.—Ed.
[339] It was a custom of the Minitaree, maintained until 1866, to leave their permanent village each winter for a spot where fuel was convenient, and there build log-cabins, very warm and secure, as winter quarters. They thus preserved both the fuel supply, and the game in the neighborhood of their summer home.—Ed.
[340] Miry Creek appears to be the present Snake Creek, in McLean County, North Dakota, the one which Maximilian designates as Snake being a small run from a cliff which was known as Snake den. See Original Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, i, p. 291.—Ed.
[341] See description of bear-dance, with illustration, in Catlin, North American Indians, i, pp. 242-245.—Ed.
[342] These stones are generally granite, not sharp, but rounded in front; are used by the Indians to break the large bones of the buffaloes, of the marrow of which they are very fond. Stones closely resembling these are found among the Blackfoot Indians.—Maximilian.
[343] See p. [361], for illustration of a stone battle-axe.—Ed.
[344] The Little Missouri is the most important North Dakota affluent of the Missouri, above the Cannonball. It rises on the northwestern slopes of the Black Hills and flows north for some distance, thence turning northeast and east to enter the main river in Williams County. It is a broad but shallow stream, impregnated with alkali.—Ed.
[345] Wild Onion Creek was so named by Lewis and Clark because of the quantity of that plant growing upon its bordering plains. Within Garfield County, North Dakota, it is now denominated Pride Creek.—Ed.