Crows is the name of the tribe inhabiting the country in the recesses of the Rocky Mountains, between the Wind River Mountains and the river Platte, the upper part of the Missouri near its junction with the Yellow-Stone river to the Big-Horn river on the south-east. They number nearly 4000, are noted for their predatory habits, horses being especially the objects of their plunder, to procure which they extend their excursions for long distances on each side of the mountains, and are in constant hostility with all the surrounding tribes.
The Hurons between Lakes Huron and Ontario ; the once-powerful Iroquois, who extended on both sides of the Mississippi; • the Mohicans, who were at home in Connecticut ; the Oneidas and Onondagas, of New York ; the Shawanoes of Pennsylvania, to which may be added the Delawares from Delaware Bay, are now all but extinct., The last named two have both possessed Wyoming at different times, and the bones of their ancestors repose on " Susquehanna's banks." Except the Delawares, Shawanoes, and Oneidas, of whom fragments have been located west of the Mississippi, and have become in some degree agri cultufists, only individuals remain. The Iroquois language, however, is said to be yet widely spoken.
The laways, who only number 1100, live between the forks of the Grand River and those of the River des Moines on the west of Illinois. They are probably a branch of the Sioux, whose territory a lj them.
The Kickapoos are a small tribe of about 800, living near the south end of Lake Michigan, in Illinois.
The Mandans were one of the most curious tribes. They werelocated, prior to 1840, on the west bank of the Missouri, 1800 miles above St. Louis, and 200 below the mouth of the Yellow Stone. Number, about 2000. They did not bury, but placed their dead on scaffolds, there to moulder and decay. When the scaffolds fell, and the flesh had decayed, the skulls were placed on the ground in circles, and the other bones were buried. The colour of the hair and complexion was various : the hair of females in youth being often of a silvery gray, fine, and silky. They swam not like Europeans, but, throwing the body on one side, the hand was drawn through the water inward under that side, while the other hand reached as far forward as possible, out of the water, till the lower stroke was completed ; then the side was changed, and the other hand was drawn through the water. They were poly
gamists; as the wars carried off so many men, there were often three females to one male in a tribe. They raised corn (Indian), pumpkins, &c., all the labour being performed by the women. They have been since exterminated by the small pox ; only thirty, it is stated by Catlin, having survived, and these were killed by the Sioux. A smaller tribe, litinatarces, were their allies, or dependents, and have shared the same fate.
The Micmacs are a small tribe still existing in Nova Scotia. They exhibited themselves and their war-dance to the Prince of Wales on his visit to America in 1860.
The 11. fonquois or Monkey Indians, inhabit a district south-west of Lake Utah. Little is known of them, but they are said to be as light coloured as Spaniards, neat in their dress, decorous in their manlier, and their women to be beautiful. A theory has been raised that they are the descendants of the Welsh colony led by Madoe, though others suppose the Mandans to have a better claim. Not enough is known of either to warrant a conclusion, and further acquaintance will probably strip them of some of their favourable attributes.
The Ojibbeways dwell east of the Rocky Mountains, round the upper part of the Missouri at its junction with the Yellow-Stone. They are undoubtedly a branch of the Chippeways ; and are amongst the best formed, and the most picturesque in their dress of any of the Indian tribes. They live in a country well-stocked with game, are of robust make, and of middle stature. They number not more than 1500.
The Osages, a powerful and warlike tribe, are found chiefly about the Osage and White rivers, on the western borders of Missouri and Arkansas. They hunt the buffalo, but raise some maize. The Kansas, their neighbours, may be a part of the same tribe, as they resemble each other closely, the Kansas ranging along the river of that name and its tributary streams. Together they number upwards of 5000..
The Pawnees (who are not to be confounded with the Pawnee Picts, mentioned before) are a numerous tribe of 16,000 souls. They dwell in the plains between the Platte or Nebraski river and the Missouri, in lat. 42° N. and long. 25° to 28° W. They are horsemen, and depredators.