Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-08-31
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SIOTXlNDIANS.

r,,,. from The journal Of SeaHs""i' WNc r.sJu.u
.., csrrs on The 81 Peters Rir;r COMMUNICATIVE
a, gagaa .ldrertiser.
~so e;oux Indians inhabited country be-
.aa tho iorty-thirI and.the forty-sixth de-
of North latitude, extending from the
u..i..i,pi river, west to the Rocky Noun
Thev are supposed to be the most
.,.rffl Indian nation on the continent and
!. liyrcd into six tribes, viz: the Nllnokon-
...,.. or the people of the water WaIkpe-
40. orthc people of the prairies; Wake
| ,ra, ortbcpeop!e ofthe leaves SisSitongS.
r' ", and the thongs The first con-
800 scyen bands, who have three villages
re Mississippi, between the MonfaSue
mn trea,Ds aFeIu and the entry OF the n,
pc,cr's and the 6aiiue Gur FIeDreS, on the
(, Peters, fllv mileSabove the entry. These
Iod,,n, haunt during the winter, and IN the
'',,,o,ar dwell in their villages, where they
,,i,c corn, potatoes, sc. The second con-
,.,s of !. number Of small bands who inhabit
,bo country near the source ofthe Tcne Blue,
aaron and iowa rivers they have no fixed
,,Lit,tion, but move continually about the
,oun,rv in quest of game. The third consists
or , small tribe who reside in the country be-
,,,co the St. Peters and the river dc Bor-
beau. tributary to the Mississippi. These,
as, have no fixed residence, but are constant
r. moving about the country in search OF
buffalo, Xix, and other animals. The fourth
are quite numerous, cosising oftwo bands. =
They inhabit the country on the St Peters
and irs,vicinity, between the White Rock and
is source. They spend the summer season
in praires in search Of Bufaloe, on which
'hey principally depend for food.
The fifth occupy large tract OF country,
wing between the source of the St. Peters
and the Missouri, aud around the source OF
The Red River, which emptieS into lake Win
nopce, extending west nearly 10 the Rocky
Mountains. This tribe is very numerous,
and consist Of eight bands, each having its
own chief.
The sixth consist Of two powerful bands re-
siding on the banks of the Missouri, where
it makes the nearest approach to the source OF
the st. Peters being about twenty days
march from the latter river These tribes
are independent OF each other, but consider
themselves hound to unite their forces, in
cases Of invasion, for the defence of their coun-
try There have, however, been instances
where one tribe has been engaged in war
with an enemy, whilst the others have re-
manned at peace.
Their population is calculated nearly as
follows -
The Nnokotongs, or People Of the Water,
about $500
Wa!kpeSau,', ue pie Of the Leaves 1000
Nlkp l'nSN. or People Of the rrIries, 200
N''s'urSS, ab,u, $500
ink'ong, 10000
TtonSr 9, 900
Supposed total population of the Sioux Nation 10000
THIS IS the amount of the population of this
nation, as nearly as we are able 10 ascertain
10 Obtain the exact number would be almost
an lmpoSSibllity, considering the whole popu-
huonto amount TO 10000, we may safely
calculate that they can furnish 5000 able bo-
died warriors.
The Indian languages yet distinguishable
nme United States as mother languages, arc
Lonr;-Vhe Algonquin, in the north the
'neroSee, IN the south; the Iroquois in the
east the Noidewass,o or Narcotaw, in the
west Sioux speak the last. which has a
h'r'h cultural sound, and is much more dit
a'at to learn than the algonquin, which i:
,IoEen IN It's purcst dialect by the Chippewas
Inc lndan languages, however, being un'
"r'iiea, arc constantly changing. As a proc
Of his the Assinneboins who inhabit the
country in the vicinity of the Rocky Noun
Ans, which separate the waters Of the Mis-
souri, and those which enter HudSon's Bay
rom those OF the Columbia and other river:
which enter into the Pacific, were formerly
one ration with the Sioux, but were SEPARATED
os aelvll war which lasted long time
Inc dialect which these Indians use cannot b.
understood by the Sioux; and those on the
Missouri have much difficulty in discoursins
with those who inhabit the river St Peters.