Stone Indians, are a tribe of Sioux, who speak a dialeet of the
Iroquois, one of the great divisions under which the American* philologists
have classed the known dialects of the* Aborigines of North
America. The Stone Indians, or, as they name themselves, Eascab,
originally entered this part of the country under the« protection of
the Créés, and in concert with them attacked and drove; to the westward
the former inhabitants of the banks of the ‘Saskatchewan. They
are still the allies of the Créés, but have now become more numerous
than their former protectors. They exhibit all: the bad .qualities
ascribed to the Mengwe or Iroquois, the stock whence they; are
sprung. Of their actual number I could obtain no precise information,
but it is very great. The Créés* who inhabit the plains,
being fur hunters, are better known to the traders.
“ They are divided into two distinct bands, the Ammisk-watcheé-
thinyoowuc or Beaver Hill Créés, who have about forty tents, and
the Sackaweé-thinyoowuc, or Thick Wood Créés,- who have thirty-
five. The tents average nearly ten inmates each,,,which gives , a
population of seven hundred and fifty to the whole. -
“ The nations who were driven to the westward by- the .Eascab
and Créés are termed, in general, by the latter, 'Katcheé-thinyoowuc,
which has been translated Slave Indians, but more properly signifies
Strangers.
“ They now inhabit the country around Fort Augustus, and
towards the foot of the Bocky Mountains, and have increased in
strength until they have become an object of terror to 'the Easfcab
themselves. They rear a great number of horses, make use of firearms,
and are fond of European articles ; in order to purchase which
they hunt the beaver and other furred animals, but they, depend
principally on the buffalo for subsistence.
“ They are divided into five nations :—1’ irst, the Pawaustic-eythin-
yoowuc, or Fall Indians, so named from their former residence on the
falls of the Saskatchawan. They are the Minetarres, with whom Captain
Lewis’s party had a conflict on their return from the Missouri.
They have about four, hundred and fifty or five,hundred tents; their
language is very guttural and* difficult, if,
<Ij'f‘* Second, ithe* j<Bega®Db,eysthinyoQwuc, .Pegans, of .Muddy, Biver
Indians, .named * ifi) their .own language PeganoeVkoon, have, four
hundredtents.‘)iiJ mica
“ Third, the .MeethcOfthinyoowuc, * or Blood* ,Indians,, named by
themselves Mainee'-koon, have three hundred, tents. .
“ Fourth, thesGuskoeteh-waw-th&setuek, or Blackfoot Indians,,in
their own* language Saxcekoe-koon, have* three hundred* and fifty
tents.
“ The last three nations,; or tribes, the Pegans, Blood Indians, .and
Black-feet, speak; the * same language. It *is pronounced , in a slow
and distinct tone, has *much softness; and; is* easily acquired ,by their
neighbours. I amt'assured by the best interpreters in the country
that it 'bears no affinity to the Cree, Sioux, or Chipewyan languages.
mi« Lastly,; th e' Sassees,j or Circees, have; one hundred and fifty
tent®;- they, speak'the- same language with their neighbours, the
Snare Indians, who are a tribe of the extensive,Chipdwyans*'” be. family * of* the
On the Uitli of February, we accompanied Mr.,.Prudens on a visit
to a Crete encampment and a buffalo pound, about six, miles, from the
-.i *^ “ As the^subjeotSitoay fciaterssting to philologists,!I, subjoin avfew wordsfof the
Blackfoo.t laBguage:~“- {m<
■ lîeeSitâh^n,;. f ■j jtpbiacçp.. j., 1 j .St.op^an, j ,. i. ajknife. Moohksee an awl. , , Sassoopats, ammunition., Nappoe-oônkee, rum. Meeriee, • heads. Cfook keèt, give me. ,,s ’ Poomüïèés, ■" fktv 11
Eeniûeef « > buffalo; ; Miss ta poofc, • keep off.
Pooxàpoot come here. Saw, *'r ; 1 «$Ét « Kat oetsitg, s >n<me. I have; none,. , St wee. j. , cold ; it is cold. Keet stà kee,. a heav.er. Pennâkômit, ahorse. Naum*/ a now. ! Ah^èeu/ 'go6t£” ‘