The Journey to the Polar Sea eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 597 pages of information about The Journey to the Polar Sea.

The Journey to the Polar Sea eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 597 pages of information about The Journey to the Polar Sea.

They are divided into two distinct bands, the Ammiskwatchhethinyoowuc or Beaver Hill Crees, who have about forty tents and the Sackaweethinyoowuc or Thick Wood Crees 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 Crees are termed, in general, by the latter, Yatcheethinyoowuc, 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 Rocky Mountains, and have increased in strength until they have become an object of terror to the Eascab 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: 

First, the Pawausticeythinyoowuc, or Fall Indians, so named from their former residence on the falls of the Saskatchewan.  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.

Second, the Peganooeythinyoowuc Pegans, or Muddy River Indians named in their own language Peganoekoon, have four hundred tents.

Third, the Meethcothinyoowuc, or Blood Indians, named by themselves Kainoekoon, have three hundred tents.

Fourth, the Cuskoetehwawthesseetuck, or Blackfoot Indians, in their own language Saxoekoekoon, have three hundred and fifty tents.

The last three nations or tribes, the Pegans, Blood Indians, and Blackfeet, speak the same language.  It is pronounced in a slow and distinct tone, has much softness, and is easily acquired by their neighbours.  I am assured by the best interpreters in the country that it bears no affinity to the Cree, Sioux, or Chipewyan languages.

Lastly the Sassees, or Circees, have one hundred and fifty tents; they speak the same language with their neighbours, the Snare Indians, who are a tribe of the extensive family of the Chipewyans.*

(Footnote.  As the subjects may be interesting to philologists I subjoin a few words of the Blackfoot language: 

Peestah kan:  tobacco. 
Moohksee:  an awl. 
Nappoeoohkee:  rum. 
Cook keet:  give me. 
Eeninee:  buffalo. 
Pooxapoot:  come here. 
Kat oetsits:  none, I have none. 
Keet sta kee:  a beaver. 
Naum:  a bow. 
Stooan:  a knife. 
Sassoopats:  ammunition. 
Meenee:  beads. 
Poommees:  fat. 
Miss ta poot:  keep off. 
Saw:  no. 
Stwee:  cold; it is cold. 
Pennakomit:  a horse. 
Ahseeu:  good.)

...

VISIT TO A BUFFALO POUND.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The Journey to the Polar Sea from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.