Indian Tribes of the Upper Missouri 19

Indian Tribes of the Upper Missouri 19

All smaller quarrels or misdemeanors are paid in the same way, though

not so high, but they never strike or kill each other, yet are addicted

to using personal abuse and invective freely. Our gentleman in charge

of that nation states that he has seen the two principal bands of Crow

Indians, over 200 lodges, abusing and throwing stones at each other all

day, the Yellowstone River being between them. No damage could happen,

as the missiles could not be thrown a fourth of the distance, yet not a

shot was fired, although balls would reach, and this force was headed

by the two principal chiefs of that nation. In all the regulations

of these Indians (the Crows) we can discern great natural goodness of

heart, and absence of any useless barbarity and bloodshed except with

regard to their enemies, the males of whom they kill and cut to pieces,

but never kill women and children, whereas the Assiniboin, Sioux, and

Blackfeet kill everything. Very few feuds from polygamy result in

death, but should it so happen the other would be punished. If the

favorite wife had been killed, the least the other wife expected would

be a tomahawking, or an arrow shot into her, perfectly regardless as to

whether death would be the consequence or not. Women among Indians are

bought, paid for, and are the property of the purchaser the same as his

horses. Their lives are of course more valuable than those of animals,

and every Indian regrets the loss of his woman. Yet when he has bought

them he expects them to do their duty, not quarrel nor render his lodge

disagreeable, or if so they must expect to be severely punished.

 

Their lives are not, however, considered as valuable as men, nor are

they ever so much mourned for. When not bought, or unmarried, the

killing of a woman never happens and would be a great disgrace to any

man, though after marriage they are subject to the penalty of death

from different causes in which the man thinks he is justified.

 

Private debts are never settled by the chief, nor private disputes by

council. Advice may be given and taken, frequently is, though the usual

mode of settling trivial quarrels is by payment, and an invitation to a

feast. Everything except loss of life or personal chastisement can be

paid for among these Indians.

 

GAME LAWS, OR RIGHTS OF THE CHASE.—The roving tribes subsist by

hunting buffalo, and these animals being constantly on the move, they

are obliged to move after them. Therefore no particular section of

country is appointed to each as a hunting district.[14] There are,

however, certain regulations with regard to the hunting of these

animals which may as well be recorded here. A lodge or a few lodges

have no right to establish and hunt within 6, 8, or 10 miles from a

large camp, as by this the buffalo would be continually kept out of

the range of the latter, and a few people be the cause of distress and

starvation to the many. Therefore these obstructions are removed by the

soldiers. When hunting by surround has been agreed upon, individual

hunting is stopped for the same reason, and has met with explanation.

This is also the duty of the soldiers. Hunting deer, elk, beaver, etc.,

being of little consequence to these Indians, each one exercises his

pleasure in regard to these occupations. No right to any section of

country is claimed by any person to the exclusion of others. Should an

Indian wound a deer and not follow, and another pursue and kill it, the

former would have no right to either skin or meat, having relinquished

that right by abandoning the wounded animal. But should he be following

and arrive where the other has killed it, the hide and half the meat

would be his share. As a general rule he who draws the first blood of

the animal is entitled to the hide. This is often difficult to settle

when large buffalo surrounds are made on horseback with the bow and

arrow. Several hundreds of animals are slain in the course of an hour

or so, and some have the arrows of different Indians in them. Each

Indian, by his own mark, knows his arrow, but the matter of dispute is

whose arrow struck first? Therefore who is entitled to the hide?

 

[14] The statement here militates against any claim of private

ownership of hunting grounds among these tribes.

 

All that prevents this from being often the cause of serious quarrels

is that in large hunts a sufficient number or more is generally killed

than they can or do skin, and in smaller hunts the same confusion does

not occur. A wounded animal is also mostly pursued until killed, and

others usually pass by those that are stopped or have arrows sticking

into them. With regard to the meat all Indians are liberal. In a large

camp at least one-third of the men have no horses that they can catch.

There are also a good many old, infirm widows, etc., all of whom

must be fed. Every one who can, men and women, turn out and follow

the horsemen to the hunt; and, even while the hunt is going on at a

distance, commence cutting up the first buffalo they come to. The hide

is taken off, and laid aside with the arrow found in it. The tongue and

four of the choicest pieces are laid on the hide. This is the portion

of him who killed it; and the rest, which is the greater part of the

animal, is divided among those who skin it. This operation is going on

with numbers of buffalo at the same time, and by this division of labor

the hunters and all are ready to pack home their hides and meat nearly

as soon as the hunt is finished. In this way the hunters get as many

hides and as much meat as they can pack, and those who have not killed,

as much meat as they want. Whatever hides are remaining are given away

to those who have no horses to hunt with, and other poor people, and

all are satisfied and provided for. The soldiers’ lodge and others in

camp who have remained to guard the property in the absence of the

greater body of people are each supplied with meat by those who have

been at the hunt. Feasting is then commenced, and kept up day and night

until meat has become scarce, when another hunt follows. This method of

hunting is continued until they have hides and meat enough.

 

 

INDIAN TRADE

 

There is no doubt that the Indian trade has promoted the general cause

of civilization. Even within our recollection, tribes of Indians, from

being bloodthirsty robbers, have changed to orderly and civil people.

A foundation has been laid, and the road paved toward the civilization

of the prairie tribes, but nothing more. Stationary Indians have been

still further advanced. The few ideas of justice that are beginning

to be developed and the very first dawn of the light of knowledge

perceptible are in consequence of their traffic and communication with

the white trader. The introduction of firearms, articles of clothing,

utensils, and other articles manufactured by the whites must tend

to enlarge their ideas, set them to thinking, to show them their

uncultivated state, and to implant a desire to improve. Nevertheless

their progress is slow, more so with the Assiniboin than with any other

nations. They adhere with tenacity to old customs and superstitions,

which is vexatious and discouraging; but the Sioux, Mandan, Gros

Ventres, Cree, and Chippewa are undoubtedly much improved. The firm of

Pierre Chouteau, Jr., & Co., formerly the American Fur Co., has for

many years conducted the trade with all the Indians of the Missouri and

its tributaries, from Council Bluffs to the headwaters of the Missouri

and Yellowstone Rivers. The supplies for the trade are brought up each

spring and summer from St. Louis by steamboat and distributed at the

different forts along the Missouri River as far as Fort Union, mouth

of the Yellowstone; from which point they are transported with keel

boats to Fort Benton, near the mouth of Maria River, in the Blackfoot

country. From these forts or depots the merchandise is carried into the

interior in different ways, to wherever the Indians request trading

houses to be established.

 

The traders generally bear the character of trustworthy men and the

nature of the barter for robes and other skins is such that the Indian

receives what he considers an equivalent for his labor or he would

not hunt. There is no way in the nature of the business by which an

Indian can be made to hunt, nor any means of getting his skins without

paying a fair price. Should the merchandise be placed too high to be

easily purchased by them they would and can dispense with nearly all

the articles of trade. On the contrary should the price be too low

the business could not be continued; the prospects of gain not being

equivalent to the risk of the adventure or capital employed it would be

abandoned. Consequently a medium is and must be established whereby are

secured the advantage and comfort of the Indian and a tolerably fair

prospect of gain for the trader. The trade, when carried on without

competition, is in many respects a highly respectable and important

occupation. Therefore the Hudson’s Bay Co. have received the title

of honorable from the way in which they conduct it; but it is only

because they are alone that they are able to conduct it in this orderly

manner.[15] The Indian trade does not admit of competition. The effects

of strong rival companies have been more injurious and demoralizing

to the Indians than any other circumstance that has come within our

knowledge, not even excepting the sale of ardent spirits among them.

This we could easily prove, but as no monopoly can be allowed by the

nature of our government it is useless. When the American Fur Co. were

alone in the country a trader’s word or promise to the Indians was

sacred, the Indians loved and respected their traders, and still do

some of the old stock, but since corruption has been carried on we look

in vain for that reliance on and good feeling toward traders which was

once the pride of both Indian and white.

 

[15] Perhaps this title has been bought, but at all events they deserve

it.

 

The manner in which the trade is conducted in its operations is this:

 

A party of Indians, many or few, leave their camp for the trading post,

packing on dogs and horses all their buffalo robes and other skins.

When within a mile or two of the houses, they stop and send a few

persons to the trader with an account of how many persons their party

is composed of, how many skins, etc., they have, and all general news.

These are furnished with tobacco and sent back with an invitation for

the party to come to the house or fort. If a leading chief is then with

a large party, the American flag is raised in the fort and cannon fired

when he arrives. On arrival they are received at the fort gate by the

interpreter, who conducts them to a large reception room. The dogs,

horses, etc., are unpacked and each Indian takes charge of his own

skins in the same room. They are then smoked (with the pipe), feasted

on coffee, bread, corn, etc., after which the principal men and chiefs

are called into the public office, when they are counciled with by

the gentleman in charge. Speeches on both sides are made, and if the

Indians have any complaints to make they now state them. The general

situation of the camp and trade is adverted to, prospects mentioned,

and prices of goods stated, with all other matters relating to their

affairs. When this is finished the store is opened and the trade

commenced. Several Indians can trade at the same time with different

traders, handing their robes and skins over the counter, and receiving

immediate payment in such articles as they wish. When all are done, a

small present of ammunition and tobacco is given them and in a day or two they leave for their camp.