[273] Alcide Dessalines D'Orbigny (1802-57), a French naturalist and palæontologist. In 1826 he was sent to South America, where for eight years he travelled and made observations, which were embodied in his Voyages dans l'Amérique méridionale (1834-47); he also published L'Homme Américain consideré sous ses rapports physiologique et moreaux (Paris, 1839). In 1853 he was appointed to the chair of palæontology in the Jardin des Plantes, Paris.
Felix d'Azare (1746-1811), a Spanish soldier, traveller, and naturalist, spent twenty years (1781-1801) in South America. His published work was Voyage dans l'Amérique méridionale (1809). Tylor calls attention to D'Orbigny's strictures on Azare's statements.—Ed.
[274] Dipauch is a very distinguished man, and might have been a chief long ago if he had pleased, as he possesses all the necessary qualifications. His father was shot by the Sioux during Lewis and Clarke's winter residence among these Indians. Those travellers offered to assist the Mandans against their enemies, and to take the field with them, to which, however, they would not consent.—Maximilian.
Comment by Ed. See Original Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, i, pp. 229-232. It is somewhat misleading to say that the Mandan would not accept the aid of the explorers. The snow was too deep, and the cold too severe to permit pursuit of the Sioux.
[275] Brackenridge, p. 71, is very much mistaken in believing that the Mandans and Manitaries worship only buffalo heads, for, if the latter are medicine, it is incontrovertibly true that they believe in a number of superior beings who make a figure in their mythology.—Maximilian.
Comment by Ed. Our author is citing Brackenridge, Views of Louisiana (Pittsburgh, 1814).
[276] Catlin calls this spirit Okeeheedee, and identifies him as the devil. It is he who creates the great disturbance on the third day of the Okippe; see post.—Ed.
[277] Catlin gives a variant of this legend, in North American Indians, i, pp. 179-180.—Ed.
[278] Numank-Machana autem, partis naturalis loco cauda vacuna usus erat: incolæ loci, valde stupefacti præstantes et assiduas primi hominis vires admirarunt.—Maximilian.
[279] Deluge-myths are very widespread among the American aborigines. D.G. Brinton, Myths of the New World (Philadelphia, 3rd ed., 1896), pp. 234-249, finds over thirty-four tribes among whom distinct traces of deluge myths were prevalent.—Ed.