It was published in the Forty-Sixth Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology. In the middle of the following summer the family moved into the Red River settlement.
OF THE CROW NATION — DENIQ 17
Alexander Culbertson, the well-known agent of the American Fur Company, who has spent thirty years of his life among the wild tribes of the Northwest, and speaks several of their languages with great facility. I have before me the materials for an extended sketch of the manners and customs, together with biographical sketches of the principal chiefs of this tribe, but as they will doubtless appear in a future work in a course of preparation, I must conclude with a brief notice of the various vocabularies in the Crow language, which have been published from time to time.
34;OF THE CROW NATION'
CROW RELATIONSHIP TO THE HIDATSA
The word Ap sarroo kai, which is the name they give themselves in their language, does not mean a crow any more than any other kind of bird, the interpretation being simply anything that flies.^ The language of crows has undergone great changes since from their separation from the Gros Ventres, although there are enough similarities to identify them as the same people.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CROW COUNTRY
From the bottom of the mountains to the mouth of Yellowstonebuffalo is always to find a lot of herds. Every creek teems with beaver, and good fish and birds are to be had on any stream in the right season.
CROV COUNTRY
The Crow country, 1855
This part of the climb is also varied by occasional level spots well clothed with greenery. The trees give way before it until it finds rest in the lower places where it can form the fountains of friends.
0^ THE CROW NATION — DENIG 23 beautiful specimens of petrified marine shells, fish, snakes, and wood
POPULATIONIANDIMAJOR: DIVISIONS
INTERTRIBAL RELATIONS
RAIDING FOR HORSES
Early in the morning two men followed the tracks of the horses to where the crows lay waiting for them. This, with the hunting of buffaloes and traveling in the camp, packing of meat, etc., soon wears the beast.
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CROW INDIANS
0^ THE CROW NATION — DENIG 29 The Crows are cunning, active, and very intelligent in everything
In this he receives the support not only from his own relations, but from most of the camp. Or in the same way they throw themselves or their relatives' poverty into the way of each other. The men are as bad as the women on these occasions, although men, when usually angry at the commencement of their courageous actions, clearly take every coup d'état on their fingers. They are, as always, so cleverly carried away, even before the eyes of the owner, to escape detection.
About half the nation have a plurality of wives, the rest only one each.'^^ The property of husband and wife is separate. Guns, bows, ammunition and all implements of war and hunting belong to the man; while kettles, pans, skins, and other baggage of a similar nature belong to the woman. The blood is never often washed" their faces, but is there dried and worn off, and when it is no more to be seen, they cut their legs to obtain it, and renew the application.^^ The hair is also sacrificed on these occasions, either cut short or torn away from.
BIOGRAPHY OF CHIEF ROTTEN BELLY
At last, after a fierce fight of a few hours, 100 and upwards of the Blackfeet lay dead on the field. They did not scalp half of their enemies, there were too many, and they were tired of the work. No.^ssr KRAGENATION — DENIG 41 small parties for the purposes mentioned, a portion consisting of 30 lodges or upwards encamped on the mouth of the river.
In the course of a week or two those who fled reached some of the camps of their own people, who sent others in search of the various parts of the nation scattered far and wide. The crows were hidden in the valley of the creeks between the timber and timber and at a distance of a mile from the camp, which presented an extended line on each side of the men varying from 10 to 20 yards apart has. The object of the expedition having been accomplished, the party went back to their own people rejoicing and satisfied.
OF THE CROW NATION — DENIG 47
This course soon attracted the attention of a large group of Blackfeet who were on their way to war against the Ravens. At night, the entire body of Blackfeet moved forward facing the fires of their enemies. Here they halted, and sent some expert scouts to creep near enough to hear them speak.
In this they also succeeded, and returned stating their numbers, together with the pleasant news that they were their old and inveterate enemies, the Crows. The group of Blackfeet numbered about 160 and was led by Spotted Elk, a proven and experienced warrior. About August 1, 1835, they encamped in the pine mountain, twenty miles east of the fort.
OF THE CROW NATION — DENIG 49
The gentleman in charge of the post when they arrived in the vicinity was Mr. Alexander Culbertson, an experienced and determined man, who has since risen to become principal agent of the company for all Upper Missouri. years ago a trader between several Indian tribes, was fluent in several languages and was well acquainted with all matters relating to the business, character and customs of the Indians. From the hills across the Missouri, the advancing Crow scouts could see and record all that was going on, still undiscovered.
It may seem strange that the besieged would allow the enemies of the day to approach the towers and converse daily without firing upon them, but those who know the nature of the fur trade and the habits of the Indians will not be surprised. Most of the participants were Canadians, who are always right, no matter how hardy they are, if they are well fed. He knew that if they managed to keep their lives alive for a short time, the entire nation of blackfeet would soon arrive. - This season of their appearance has already passed, as well as the season of the arrival of their annual keelboat.
OF THE CROW NATION — DENIQ 53 and fight as long as any remained of his now feeble command. He was
But we must not lose sight of the great Chief Rotten Belly, a sketch of whose life is here attempted. As soon as they were informed of the behavior and numbers of the Crows, the Blackfeet called a council, but could not agree on the expediency of the pursuit. These considerations had sufficient weight with the chiefs and warriors of the Blackfeet to postpone their operations against their enemies until a more favorable opportunity presented itself in which they could surprise or cut them off.
As he pondered how to act in order to somehow regain his position and regain his lost ground, chance threw in his path what he might have wanted most. Culbertson'sjournalKeptatfortmckenzie, BlackfeetindiancountryinCopiedby audubonatfrantunin 1843, StateSthathated samo2Days, June25-26, and this party for the party, June30)Both of Bradley's descriptions of this siege, supposedly based on information given to him by Culbertson four decades after the action, are in some points also differ from Denig's version (Bradley, vol. 2, pp. 181-182; vol. 3, pp. 210-215).
OF THE CROW NATION — DENIG 55
Even to this day he is spoken of as the Chief, or the Great Chief}^ Other people now took control of different sections of the Crows who separated into various bands and resumed their old habits and hunting grounds.
OF TRADE AND WAR
FACTORS LIMITING THE INCREASE OF CROW POPULATION No great national calamity overtook them until the year 1848,
It exists to a greater or lesser extent among all the nations of the Upper Missouri, but not to such an extent as to affect much their natural increase.
CROW HERMAPHRODITES
OF THE CROW NATION — DENIG 59
THE CROW TOBACCO-PLANTING CEREMONY
The river at the base of the mountain bearing that name, 'and is not confined to this country. Peculiar as it may seem, the moral character of the males is no higher than that of the female portion of the community, and several weeks are often employed in seeking and approving a man free from the crime of finance. Large quantities are consumed, which have been accumulated for months in advance in anticipation of the above ceremony.
When they arrive at this point of ceremony, their attention is drawn to a large medicine hut. One of the Planters then undertakes to produce rain, and at his request goods and other property are often collected from the group. CROW NATION - DENIG 63 The above is a quick sketch of this major national religion.
OF THE CROW NATION — DENIG 63 The foregoing is a rapid sketch of this principal national religious
CHIEF LONG HAIR
CHIEF BIG ROBBER
Working with the greater part of the house, he is usually found near the emigrant road along the Platte with a few lodgers who do nothing but beg and steal, and catch diseases from passing emigrants who sweep away numbers. He has no command, is not respected, so much to seek other districts as not to remain and assist in defending his own country.
PROSPECTS FOR INTERTRIBAL PEACE
BIOGRAPHY OF WOMAN CHIEF
CROW NATION — DENIG 65 From a personal acquaintance of 12 years with this woman we can
But the enemies followed, overtook them, and a sharp skirmish ensued, which resulted in the crows making off with most of the animals and the scalps of two black-feet. Hitherto her attention had been little drawn to personal gain in the form of barter. All of the horses had to be seized by her enemies for supplies and so far had been uniformly successful.
The whole body of the latter, with a portion of the former, showed a willingness to abstain from warlike expeditions, and sent friendly messages to the Crows and Assiniboines with invitations to visit them. With a view to ascertain how far their hostile spirit was subdued, and perhaps to obtain a large number of horses, this Chief Woman made a visit thither, supposing that, as she was in fact one of their nation, could speak the language, and a general peace was desired, she could associate with them without being prejudiced. As she neared the camp, however, she encountered a large party of the Gros Ventres of the Prairie who had been to FortUnion and were returning home.
DANGERS ENCOUNTERED IN THE FUR TRADE WITH THE CROWS
The well-timbered bed of the river and deep-cut coulees in the hills offer excellent lurking places for marauding parties ready to kill or rob whenever the opportunity presents itself. The Blackfeet see the fort for the Crows in the light Rotten Belly did it for them. The Blackfeet, too, never forgot the Crow Chief's attempt to cut off their support by besieging their fort in hopes of sacking it.
They have always been the stronger people, idling the trappers in the mountains, in which encounters they suffered losses, which they to this day avenge on any and all white persons not connected with them. Late in the autumn some of them encamped near the fort, but the greater part remained in the fastness of the mountains, hunted in the valleys, and brought their spoils to the trading post the following spring. Crow Indians or traders could therefore be brought to station themselves for a long time, and the yellow stone has been abandoned by both.'** It could be ascertained, however, that men continued their activities in the Crow district, the trade proving sufficiently profitable to the adventure.
0^ '^^E CROW NATION — DENIG 71 Laramie's Fork, thence turning off and passing the winter near Powder
FUTURE PROSPECTS OF THE CROW INDIANS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Historical and Statistical Information Concerning the History, Condition, and Prospects of the Indian Tribes of the United States, Parts 1-6. See Lewis, Meriwether and Clark, Wm.;.
