THE DACO T A S .
This collective appellation embraces many tribes or rather nations of Indians,
allied to each other by affinity of language, and in some measure by community
of customs and feelings. They are also called Sioux and Naudowessies, and the
“ Seven Fires,” in allusion to their confederacy of seven bands or tribes. They
are established on both sides of the Mississippi, and on the western side of that
river their hunting grounds extend from the Arkansas to the remote northern
plains, and are only bounded on the west by the Kocky Mountains.
In the month of September 1837,1 saw twenty-six chiefs and braves of the
Sioux nation, then in Philadelphia,, on their way to the seat of government.
Every man of them had a broad face, high cheek bones, the large Roman nose
expanded at the nostrils, a wide but low forehead, and flat occiput. Their complexion
was cinnamon brown; several of them: were; naked to the waist, so th |t I
was not deceived by the color of their faces, which were all painted. Their
figures were rather tall, very muscular, and well proportioned. The Sioux are
proverbial for their belligerent and sanguinary character. General Pike, who was
much among them, says that from his knowledge he does “ not hesitate to pronounce
them the most warlike and independent nation of Indians within the
boundaries of the United States, their every passion being subservient to that of
war.”*
The Dacota language is said to he less sonorous than the Algonquin, which
abounds in labials. “ It is certain,” says a late traveller, “ that their manners and
Customs differ essentially from those of any other tribe; and their physiognomy,
as well as their language and opinions, marks them as a distinct race of people.
Their sacrifices and their supplications to the unknown God—their feasts after
any signal deliverance from danger—their meat and their burnt offerings—the
preparation of incense, and certain customs of their females, offer too striking a
coincidence with the manners of the Asiatic tribes before the commencement of
the Christian era, to escape observation.”!-
* Exped. Appendix, p. 62.
50
t Schoolcraft, Narr. Journal, &c., p. 310.