[81] It has before been mentioned that the division and notation of time vary extremely in the Indian tribes; those who have had much commerce with the whites have coined words answering to what we denominate hours; but the tribes of the Far–western prairies usually express the successive periods of the night by resting the cheek upon the hand in a recumbent posture, and then, holding up the forefinger and thumb in the form of a crescent, they show, by the number of motions which they make in pointing to the sky, the number of hours or watches after nightfall which they wish to indicate.
[82] Xenophon.
[83] To some who have read the descriptions of bear–hunts in Norway and Russia it may appear neither wonderful nor unusual that a single hunter should kill a full–grown bear; but it must be borne in mind, that the bear of the north of Europe bears about the same proportion to a grisly bear of the Rocky Mountains (Ursus horribilis) as a panther does to a Bengal tiger. The grisly bear is not only the largest and most ferocious of his species, but his tenacity of life is so remarkable that he frequently runs a considerable distance and survives some hours after receiving several balls through the lungs, head, and heart. On this account it is never safe for the most experienced marksman to attack him alone, unless there be some tree or place of safety at hand, for the grisly bear cannot or will not climb a tree; and some idea of the animal’s strength may be formed from the fact, attested by many credible witnesses, that, after killing a bison, he will frequently drag the carcase some distance to his lair. For descriptions and anecdotes of the grisly bear, see Lewis’s and Clark’s Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, and Major Long’s ditto. A feat almost similar to that recorded in the text was performed some years ago by an Iroquois, one of the last of his tribe, and who, though grievously wounded, survived. The Author saw this Indian hero arrive at St. Louis in a canoe, containing only himself and a boy, they having descended the Missouri for more than 1500 miles in their frail bark; and having passed in their perilous voyage the villages of Crows, Riccarees, Sioux, Black–feet, and other predatory tribes.
[84] Of all the Indian nations who inhabit the wild regions near the base of the Rocky–Mountain range, the most fierce and powerful are the Black–feet. Few, if any white men have penetrated into the heart of their country, and returned to tell their tale. Very little is known, therefore, either of their customs or language: and it may not be uninteresting for the reader to be informed, that every particular mentioned respecting them in this volume, was obtained direct from a French trader, who had been permitted to marry a Black–foot wife, and had resided nineteen years among them. The construction of their language is very remarkable, and some account of it would doubtless be gladly received by philologists; but such a subject cannot be treated in a work like the present. With respect to the words referred to in the text it will be seen that they show the synthetic nature of the language, “nâma” being the root, and signifying a weapon. Hence came “suksinâma,” rifle; literally, “heavy weapon;” “saksinâma,” pistol; literally, “light–weapon;” “nahtovinâma,” wonderful, or medicine–weapon; and “nitsi–nâma,” literally, useless weapon; which latter name has probably been given to the bow, since the Black–feet have learnt the superior efficacy of fire–arms.
[85] It may not be generally known to European readers, that the arrows used by the western Indians are of two sorts. The hunting arrow, which has a head tapering in the form of an acute lozenge, and firmly secured to the shaft, so as to be easily withdrawn from a wound, and the war–arrow, sometimes poisoned, but always barbed like a fish–hook, and having its head so slightly fastened to the shaft, as to remain infixed in the wound when the wood is pulled out.
[86] The name by which the Black–feet are generally known among the Crows is “Echipeta.” In their own tongue they call themselves “Siksikaga;” both words having the signification of Black–feet. They are divided into three bands, the largest of which is called by the generic name above mentioned, as being that of the tribe; the other two bands are called “Piecan” or “Piegan” (the meaning of which word is not known to the author), and “Ka–in–na,” or “Bloody–men,” which last are held to be the most fierce and formidable of the three.
[87] The Missouri is here alluded to, the ancient name of which, “Pekitanoui,” signifies “muddy water” in the language of the Illinois, once a most powerful tribe, dwelling near its confluence with the Mississippi. They have since given a name to one of the states of the Union, but not one of the tribe survives at this day. Some antiquarians think that they were formerly a branch of the great nation of the Delawares (a supposition confirmed by the resemblance of their name, Il–lenni, to that of the Lenni–Lenapé); one half of which remained on the great prairies bordering the Mississippi, while the other half overran, and finally occupied, the greater portion of country between the Ohio and the Atlantic.—See Charlevoix, &c.
[88] These, and many other particulars respecting the Six Nations, the author had from the lips of a veteran, who was carried off as a child by the Senecas when they sacked Wyoming. He was adopted into their tribe, and lived with them the greater part of his life, during a portion of which he acted for them in the capacity of interpreter and Indian agent; afterwards he retired to spend a vigorous and green old age in the western part of the state of New York. He always spoke with affectionate enthusiasm of his adopted kindred, and it was easy to see that the white man’s blood in his veins circulated through an Indian heart. Those who wish to know more of the early history of the Five Nations are referred to the accurate and interesting account given of them by Colden.
[89] The Minnetarees.
[90] The celebrated “Lettres Edifiantes.”