Synonyms.—Lenapian, Wapanachki=men of the east. This is said by Heckewelder to have been their national and collective name. Probably, however, it was so only for the tribes on the Atlantic.Distribution.—East and west from the Rocky Mountains to Newfoundland; north and south, from Labrador to the Carolinas. Breadth greatest in its northern part, decreasing towards the south.Area.—Newfoundland, part of Labrador, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Upper and Lower Canada, New Brunswick, south-eastern part of the Hudson's Bay territory, the boundary line between British North America and the United States, the north-western part of the Missouri territory, part of the Wisconsin territory, parts of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, &c., the New England States, Virginia, Kentucky(?), North Carolina.Divisions.—a.Bethucks.b.Central Algonkins.c.Shiennes.d.Blackfoots. Classification provisional.a.Bethucks.—Locality Newfoundland. Probably extinct. Not hitherto recognised as Algonkin.b.Central Algonkins.—1.The Crees,Knisteneaux,Klisteno, orKilistheno. Native name,Nĕhethowuck=exact people. Situation, the river-system of the rivers Nelson, Salmon, and Albany, falling into Hudson's Bay.2.Ojibways, on the south and west sides of Lake Superior, south of the Crees.3.Algonkins Proper.4.Nipissing.—Closely allied tribes on the sides of the Lake of the Two Mountains, in the district of Montreal.5.Ottawas.—On the river Ottawa, in the islands of Lake Superior. Northern part of Michigan, Closely allied to the Proper Algonkins.6.Montagnards,Mountaineers.—The French name and its translation, of the name of the tribes between Montreal and the mouth of the St. Lawrence.7.Scoffis—Nascopies.—The Algonkins of Labrador. Conterminous with the Eskimo.8.Sheshatapoosh.—Ditto.9.Abenakis.—In the state of Maine, in the valley of the Kennebec.10.Etchemin.—-From whom the state of Maine, took its name. A tribe of these occupy the valley of the St John's River, in New Brunswick.11.Passamaquoddy.—Maine. A branch of the Etchemin.12.Micmacs.—New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, parts of Labrador and Newfoundland.13.Penobscot.—Maine.14.Messisaugis.—North of Lake Ontario, at its junction with the St. Lawrence.15, 16.Pequod and Mohicans.—Extinct. In 1674, in Connecticut.17.Narraganset.—Extinct. In 1674, in Rhode Island.18.Massachusetts.—Extinct. In 1674, in the state so called.19, 20, 21, 22, 23.—The Pawkunnawkuts(or Wampanoag),the Pawtucket,the Pennakuk,the Nipmuk,the Montaug.—Extinct. In 1674, in Long Island. The language of these Indians is represented by Jonathan Edwards' Grammar of the Mohican, and by Eliot's translation of the Bible.24.Lenni-Lenapi or Delawares.—Three tribes,a.the Unami, or Turtle.b.The Minsi or Wolf.c.The Unalachtigo, or Turkey.25.The Monakans(?)—Extinct. Virginia, one day's journey beyond the Falls, at Richmond. People of the high country as opposed to the Powhattans of the low—said to build stone houses.The Indians of Virginia, especially the Powhattans, will be noticed in the sequel as affording a measure of the civilization of the Algonkins.26.The Pamticoes(Pamticoughs).—South Carolina. This is the southernmost limit of the Eastern Algonkins.The list is now continued from the south-eastern boundary of the Ojibways, and from the parts south of Lake Superior, and west of Lake Michigan.27.The Menomeni.—Due south of Lake Superior, from which they are separated by the Ojibways.28, 29. TheSauks=white-clayand theOttogami=foxes. These last are also calledMusqkuakuik=red-clay.30.The Kickapoos.—Southern part of Illinois. Closely allied to the Sauks and Foxes.31.The Potawotomi.—South of Lake Michigan.32.The Shawno.—The most south of the Western Algonkins, being south of the Ohio, in the state of Kentucky. Now removed to the west of the Mississippi, to a reserve immediately south of that of the Delawares.33, 34, 35, 36, 37.—Illinois Indians=the Miami, Piankeshaws, Kaskkaias(?)[121], Cabokias, Tamaronas, Peorias, and Mitchigami.c.Shyennes.—Between the head-waters of the Yellow-stone River and the River Platte. Conterminous with the Upsaroka, Pawnees, and probably the northern Shoshonis. As such, isolated from the other Algonkins.d.Blackfoot Algonkins.—Head-waters of the south branch of the Saskatchewan, and extended as far west as the Rocky Mountains, by which they are divided from the Kútanis. Bounded on the north by the Athabaskans, the south by the Upsarokas (Sioux), the east by the Ahnenin and Crees. The Blackfoots have been but recently recognised as Algonkin.
Synonyms.—Lenapian, Wapanachki=men of the east. This is said by Heckewelder to have been their national and collective name. Probably, however, it was so only for the tribes on the Atlantic.
Distribution.—East and west from the Rocky Mountains to Newfoundland; north and south, from Labrador to the Carolinas. Breadth greatest in its northern part, decreasing towards the south.
Area.—Newfoundland, part of Labrador, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Upper and Lower Canada, New Brunswick, south-eastern part of the Hudson's Bay territory, the boundary line between British North America and the United States, the north-western part of the Missouri territory, part of the Wisconsin territory, parts of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, &c., the New England States, Virginia, Kentucky(?), North Carolina.
Divisions.—a.Bethucks.b.Central Algonkins.c.Shiennes.d.Blackfoots. Classification provisional.
a.Bethucks.—Locality Newfoundland. Probably extinct. Not hitherto recognised as Algonkin.
b.Central Algonkins.—1.The Crees,Knisteneaux,Klisteno, orKilistheno. Native name,Nĕhethowuck=exact people. Situation, the river-system of the rivers Nelson, Salmon, and Albany, falling into Hudson's Bay.
2.Ojibways, on the south and west sides of Lake Superior, south of the Crees.
3.Algonkins Proper.
4.Nipissing.—Closely allied tribes on the sides of the Lake of the Two Mountains, in the district of Montreal.
5.Ottawas.—On the river Ottawa, in the islands of Lake Superior. Northern part of Michigan, Closely allied to the Proper Algonkins.
6.Montagnards,Mountaineers.—The French name and its translation, of the name of the tribes between Montreal and the mouth of the St. Lawrence.
7.Scoffis—Nascopies.—The Algonkins of Labrador. Conterminous with the Eskimo.
8.Sheshatapoosh.—Ditto.
9.Abenakis.—In the state of Maine, in the valley of the Kennebec.
10.Etchemin.—-From whom the state of Maine, took its name. A tribe of these occupy the valley of the St John's River, in New Brunswick.
11.Passamaquoddy.—Maine. A branch of the Etchemin.
12.Micmacs.—New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, parts of Labrador and Newfoundland.
13.Penobscot.—Maine.
14.Messisaugis.—North of Lake Ontario, at its junction with the St. Lawrence.
15, 16.Pequod and Mohicans.—Extinct. In 1674, in Connecticut.
17.Narraganset.—Extinct. In 1674, in Rhode Island.
18.Massachusetts.—Extinct. In 1674, in the state so called.
19, 20, 21, 22, 23.—The Pawkunnawkuts(or Wampanoag),the Pawtucket,the Pennakuk,the Nipmuk,the Montaug.—Extinct. In 1674, in Long Island. The language of these Indians is represented by Jonathan Edwards' Grammar of the Mohican, and by Eliot's translation of the Bible.
24.Lenni-Lenapi or Delawares.—Three tribes,a.the Unami, or Turtle.b.The Minsi or Wolf.c.The Unalachtigo, or Turkey.
25.The Monakans(?)—Extinct. Virginia, one day's journey beyond the Falls, at Richmond. People of the high country as opposed to the Powhattans of the low—said to build stone houses.
The Indians of Virginia, especially the Powhattans, will be noticed in the sequel as affording a measure of the civilization of the Algonkins.
26.The Pamticoes(Pamticoughs).—South Carolina. This is the southernmost limit of the Eastern Algonkins.
The list is now continued from the south-eastern boundary of the Ojibways, and from the parts south of Lake Superior, and west of Lake Michigan.
27.The Menomeni.—Due south of Lake Superior, from which they are separated by the Ojibways.
28, 29. TheSauks=white-clayand theOttogami=foxes. These last are also calledMusqkuakuik=red-clay.
30.The Kickapoos.—Southern part of Illinois. Closely allied to the Sauks and Foxes.
31.The Potawotomi.—South of Lake Michigan.
32.The Shawno.—The most south of the Western Algonkins, being south of the Ohio, in the state of Kentucky. Now removed to the west of the Mississippi, to a reserve immediately south of that of the Delawares.
33, 34, 35, 36, 37.—Illinois Indians=the Miami, Piankeshaws, Kaskkaias(?)[121], Cabokias, Tamaronas, Peorias, and Mitchigami.
c.Shyennes.—Between the head-waters of the Yellow-stone River and the River Platte. Conterminous with the Upsaroka, Pawnees, and probably the northern Shoshonis. As such, isolated from the other Algonkins.
d.Blackfoot Algonkins.—Head-waters of the south branch of the Saskatchewan, and extended as far west as the Rocky Mountains, by which they are divided from the Kútanis. Bounded on the north by the Athabaskans, the south by the Upsarokas (Sioux), the east by the Ahnenin and Crees. The Blackfoots have been but recently recognised as Algonkin.
The numerous details of this great division prevent anything beyond the doubtful points of the classification being noticed. These apply to three members of it, the Bethuck, the Shyennes, and the Blackfoots.
1.The Bethuck.—The particular division to which the aborigines of Newfoundland belonged, has been a matter of doubt; some writers considering them to have been Eskimo, others to have been akin to the Micmacs, who have now a partial footing in the island.
Reasons against either of these views are supplied by a hitherto unpublished Bethuck vocabulary with which I have been kindly furnished by my friend Dr. King, of the Ethnological Society. This makes them aseparate section of the Algonkins,[122]and such I believe them to have been.
2.The Shyennes.—It has been already stated that the present Shyenne area is isolated. This had a tendency to mislead inquirers and to originate the notion that the Shyennes were Sioux.
Again,—in a treaty between the United States and the Shyennes, in 1825, the names of the chiefs who signed are Sioux. This misled also.
Still, on the evidence of Mr. Kennet M'Kenzie, of the St. Louis Fur Company, who informed Mr. Gallatin that "there was not at that time any European interpreter for the Shyenne, that the treaty was carried on through the medium of some Sioux, and that he had reason to believe that the names subscribed to it were Sioux translations of those of the Shyenne chiefs," their position was left as doubtful by that philologist.
However, a vocabulary of Lieutenant Abert has since settled the matter, "in which no affinity whatever is discovered with the Sioux. Although from its nature it contains but a small number of primitive words, or of those for which we have equivalents in other languages,there are enough to establish the fact that the Shyennes are, like the Black-feet, an Algonkin tribe. Out of forty-seven Shyenne words for which we have equivalents in other languages, there are thirteen which are indubitably Algonkin, and twenty-five which have affinities more or less remote with some of the languages of that family. Of these last I would have rejected more than one half had they stood alone, but they corroborate, to some extent, the evidence afforded by the words, the etymology of which is clear. The nine remaining words (out of the forty-seven), which have no apparent affinity with the Algonkin, arehill,mountain,stone,little,white, and the numerals VI, VII, VIII, IX, on comparing the vocabulary with those of other families, I could discover no other words which had any resemblance but the following:—little=nakee, Shyenne,okeye, Wyandott;fire=sist, Shyenne;ojishta,ojista, Seneca, Oneida."[123]
Furthermore, the evidence of Lewis and Clarke, confirmed by that of M'Kenzie and Gallatin, shows that the separation of the Shyennes from the other Algonkins, took place within the historical period. "They were originally settled on a stream called Chayenne, or Cayenne, an upper branch of the Red River of Lake Winnepeg, from which they were driven away by the Sioux; an account which is confirmed by Alexander M'Kenzie. They retreated west of the Missouri, below the river Warreconne, where their ancient fortifications still existed in 1804. Thence they were again compelled to retreat farther west, near the Black Hills, on the head branches of the river which now bears their name."[124]
That the evidence of the Shyenne numerals, the onlypart of Lieut. Abert's vocabulary then known to him, made the Shyennes Algonkin, was also stated by the present writer at the meeting of the British Association, in 1847, at Oxford.—Transactions of the Sections, p. 123.
3.The Blackfoots.—Until lately all that was known of the Blackfoot language was from two short vocabularies, one of Humphreville's and one of Mr. Catlin's.
The addition of a third in MS. has fixed the language as Algonkin; such being the opinion formed independently by both Mr. Gallatin[125]and the present writer, who was favoured by Dr. Prichard with the MS. It is further confirmed by a tabulated vocabulary of Mr. Howse's, now in the press.[126]
With the exception of the Shyennes, who seem to have moved within the historical period, the Algonkin area iscontinuous; but thoughcontinuous, it is notuninterrupted. The important class of the Mohawk, or Iroquois, tribes, is different from the Algonkin. It lieswithinthe Algonkin area, surrounded by Algonkins, but not itself Algonkin.
Measured by the extent of ground that it covers the Iroquois class is of less importance than the Algonkin. Measured by its prominence in history it is equal or greater. TheFive Nationswere Iroquois. The once formidableMohawkswere Iroquois. Before the arrival of the Europeans the Five Nations were dominant over their Algonkin neighbours; and after the arrival of the Europeans the Iroquois warriors were more feared than those of the Algonkins. At one time the head of the Algonkin confederacy was an Iroquois chieftain.
It has been stated above that the Iroquois are, at present, encompassed (or nearly encompassed) by Algonkins; so as to have become isolate in respect to the other classes of Indians, and cut off from contact with them. This, and more than this, is the case. Portions of the Iroquois family are cut off from each other, so that in coming to the details we shall expect to hear of the Northern division of the Iroquois, and of the Southern division of the Iroquois. At present it is sufficient to state that such a division exists, and that the localities for the Northern Iroquois are the parts about Lake Huron; for the Southern, North Carolina. In the latter locality alone are they in contact with tribes other than the Algonkin.
Area.—Discontinuous.Divisions.—a.Northern Iroquois.b.Southern Iroquois.Sub-divisions.—a.Northern Iroquois. 1. The Five Nations=The Mohawks, the Oneidas, the Onondagoes, the Senecas, and the Cayugas. 2. The Confederacy (?) of the Hurons (or Wyandots), the Erigas, the Andastes, and the Attiondarons, the Tionontates, the Anies(?), &c.b.Southern Iroquois.—The Tutelo, Nottoway, Meherrin, and Tuscaroras.Localities.—a.For the Northern Iroquois the parts about and between Lakes Huron, Ontario, and Erie.b.For the Southern Iroquois.—North Carolina. Separation effected by tribes of the Algonkin division, especially the Delawares.
Area.—Discontinuous.
Divisions.—a.Northern Iroquois.b.Southern Iroquois.
Sub-divisions.—a.Northern Iroquois. 1. The Five Nations=The Mohawks, the Oneidas, the Onondagoes, the Senecas, and the Cayugas. 2. The Confederacy (?) of the Hurons (or Wyandots), the Erigas, the Andastes, and the Attiondarons, the Tionontates, the Anies(?), &c.
b.Southern Iroquois.—The Tutelo, Nottoway, Meherrin, and Tuscaroras.
Localities.—a.For the Northern Iroquois the parts about and between Lakes Huron, Ontario, and Erie.b.For the Southern Iroquois.—North Carolina. Separation effected by tribes of the Algonkin division, especially the Delawares.
The Iroquois and Algonkins exhibit in the most typical form the characteristics of the North American Indians as exhibited in the earliest descriptions, and are the two families upon which the current notions respecting the physiognomy, habits, and moral and intellectual powers of the so-called Red Race are chiefly founded.
Area.—Central North America, between the Mississippi and the Rocky Mountains, east and west. Between Lake Winebago and the Arkansas, north and south. The valley of the Missouri. The water-system of Lake Winebago. One division east of the Mississippi.Divisions.—1. Winnebagoes, Hochungohrah=Trout Nation. 2. Dakotas, Sioux, or Nadowessiou. 3. Assineboins, or Stone Indians. 4. Upsaroka, or Crows. 5. Mandans. 6. Minetari. 7. Osage.Sub-divisions.—a.Of the Dahcota—1. Yanktons. 2. Yanktoanans(?) 3. Tetons. 4. Proper Sioux.b.Of the Osage.—1. Konzas. 2. Missouris. 3. Ottos. 4. Omahaws. 5. Puncas. 6. Ioways. 7. Quappas. 8. Osage Proper.
Area.—Central North America, between the Mississippi and the Rocky Mountains, east and west. Between Lake Winebago and the Arkansas, north and south. The valley of the Missouri. The water-system of Lake Winebago. One division east of the Mississippi.
Divisions.—1. Winnebagoes, Hochungohrah=Trout Nation. 2. Dakotas, Sioux, or Nadowessiou. 3. Assineboins, or Stone Indians. 4. Upsaroka, or Crows. 5. Mandans. 6. Minetari. 7. Osage.
Sub-divisions.—a.Of the Dahcota—1. Yanktons. 2. Yanktoanans(?) 3. Tetons. 4. Proper Sioux.
b.Of the Osage.—1. Konzas. 2. Missouris. 3. Ottos. 4. Omahaws. 5. Puncas. 6. Ioways. 7. Quappas. 8. Osage Proper.
The Sioux is the third great division of the North American Indians, and it is the division which comprises the tribes of the interior, of the Far West in opposition to the sea-coast, of the prairie country in opposition to the tracts that are or have been forest, and of the foot of the Rocky Mountains. The country of the buffalo is shared between them and the Western Algonkins.
Broadly speaking, we may say between these three nations the basins of all the feeders of the Upper Mississippi are distributed: the exceptions being insignificant. This they have and more; since the Canadian population is, in great part, Algonkin.
The Sioux tribes are essentially inland or continental.
Locality.—The Santee, or Catawba River, in North Carolina.
Locality.—The Santee, or Catawba River, in North Carolina.
Locality.—North Carolina. Extinct.The Catawba and Woccoon languages, which are allied to each other, probably represent those aboriginal languages of North Carolina, which werenotof the Algonkin class.
Locality.—North Carolina. Extinct.
The Catawba and Woccoon languages, which are allied to each other, probably represent those aboriginal languages of North Carolina, which werenotof the Algonkin class.
Besides these, however, there occur the following names, concerning which we only know that they belonged to North Carolina. The extent to which they spoke mutually unintelligible dialects is uncertain. 1. Cheraws; 2. Waterees; 3. Congarees; 4. Enoes;(?)[127]5. Sewees; 6. Santees; 7. Wyniaws; 8. Waxsaws; 9. Esaws; 10. Toteros; 11. Keyauwees; 12. Sissispahaws; 13. Machapanga; 14. Connamox; 15. Coramines; 16. Chowans; 17. Wyanokes; 18. Sawara.
Add to these for South Carolina:—1. The Saluda; 2. Stonoes; 3. Edistoes; 4. Westoes; 5. Yamassees.
This indicates a new branch of research, viz.: the ethnology of the extinct tribes; and the extent to which it may be carried in the way ofminuteinvestigation is shown by the length of the list of the divisions or sub-divisions of the population of the Carolinas alone. It is nearly as long for the original colony of Virginia, where the first settlers mention amongst others—
1.Kecoughtans.—At the mouth of James River. A colony of this people was transplanted by Powhattan in 1608 to the banks of the Montgomery.
2.Paspaheghes.—James River, just above the Kecoughtans.
3.Arrohatecks.—James River, just above the Paspaheghes.
4, 5, 6, 7, 8.—Appamatucks,Quiyoughcohanocks,Warraskoyacks,Nandsamunds,Chesapeaks.—All on the south-east side of James River. On York River we find the names of Youghtamund and Mattapament; but whether these be the names of districts, or of tribes, is uncertain.
9.The Bocootawwonaukes.—So called by the Powhattans, situated to the north-east of the Falls, and said to smelt copper and other metals.
10, 11, 12.—Indians of the Rappahannock.—In the high-country at its head-waters the Mannahoacks, the Cuttatawoman(?), the Nandtaughtacund; these last numbering 150 men.
13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.—Indians of the Potomack.—The Wighcocomoco with 100 fighting men; the Cekakawwon with 30; the Onawmament with 100; the Satawomeck with 160; the Taxenent with 40; the Potapoco with 20; the Pamacoack with 60; the Moyoones with 100; and, lastly, Nacothtank with 80.
22, 23, 24.—Indians of the Pawtuxunt.—The Aquintanacsuck, the Pawtuxunt, and Mattapament. Number of fighting men about 200.
Besides the following are mentioned as surrounding the Powhattan's territories—
1. TheChawonocks, bounded on the north by
2. TheMangoangs.
3. TheMannohocksconterminous with the Mannoacks.
4. TheAcquanachuk.
5. TheTockwoghs.
6. TheNuskarawaok.
Of all these there is the special evidence of Strachey, from Captain Smith, that none understand each other except by interpreters; an observation which applies to the Monacans and Susquehannas as well.
Besides these names we collect from the map the additional ones of the (1)Massawomecks, and (2)Kuskarawaoks.
Some of these spread northward, and represented part of the population of the Northern States (which, however, was chiefly Minsi), just as some of the Carolina tribes reached into Florida. Still, the great number of sub-divisions, for comparatively small areas, constitutes one of the difficulties of American ethnology. For none of these lost families do we possess vocabularies; so that, although from external evidence we are sometimes able to give them an ethnological position, the evidence is not conclusive. That conclusive evidence is necessary, and that we can by no means at once assume any given tribe to be Algonkin, simply because it is within the Algonkin area, is well known to every investigator for these parts.
Again, not only have whole tribes become extinct since the settlement of Europeans, but at the very beginning of the American historical period, tribes were found mutuallyexterminating each other. The empire of Powhattan was founded upon the annihilation of some tribes, and the incorporation of others. The Huron Iroquois were nearly extinguished by the Five Nations. The Mandans, within the last decennium, after being thinned and weakened by the small-pox, were, as a separate tribe, destroyed by the Sioux, who incorporated with themselves those who were not killed in the attack.
The Catawbas and Waxas are said to have flattened the head.
Locality.—Valley of the Tennessee River.Conterminouswith the Southern Algonkins, the Southern Iroquois, the Catawbas, and the Choctahs.
Locality.—Valley of the Tennessee River.
Conterminouswith the Southern Algonkins, the Southern Iroquois, the Catawbas, and the Choctahs.
The Cherokee is one of the few so-called savage nations which isincreasing, and notdecreasing, in numbers. It is, also, the most industrial of all the American families; the Cherokee landholder having, in some cases, as much as five hundred acres under tillage, and possessing slaves as well. Lastly, a native Cherokee has reduced the language to writing—the alphabet (which will be noticed in the sequel) being syllabic.
Area.—Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, parts of Louisiana, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee.Boundedby the Mississippi, the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic, the Catawba, the Cherokee, and the South Algonkin areas.Divisions.—a.Choctahsb.Muscogulges, Muskohges, or Creeks.Sub-divisions.—a.Of the Choctahs, the Chikkasahs.b.Of the Creeks, the Hitchittee and Seminoles.
Area.—Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, parts of Louisiana, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Boundedby the Mississippi, the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic, the Catawba, the Cherokee, and the South Algonkin areas.
Divisions.—a.Choctahsb.Muscogulges, Muskohges, or Creeks.
Sub-divisions.—a.Of the Choctahs, the Chikkasahs.b.Of the Creeks, the Hitchittee and Seminoles.
The Choctahs flatten the head.
The Choctah civilization is partially industrial, differing but little from that of the Cherokee.
The Choctah family has, probably, been a family ofencroachingarea, the population which it displaced being represented by—
Locality.—The Coosa River.Synonym.—Probably the Apalaches of De Soto.Language.—as known from a single vocabulary, peculiar.
Locality.—The Coosa River.
Synonym.—Probably the Apalaches of De Soto.
Language.—as known from a single vocabulary, peculiar.
Also by—
Conterminouswith the Uché, and said to speak a peculiar language, but which is not known from any vocabulary.
Conterminouswith the Uché, and said to speak a peculiar language, but which is not known from any vocabulary.
Also by—
Conterminouswith the Uché, and said to speak a peculiar language; but which is not known from any vocabulary.
Conterminouswith the Uché, and said to speak a peculiar language; but which is not known from any vocabulary.
We now see that a separate group of tribes or families, aboriginal to Florida, but now replaced by Creeks, has existed within a recent period.
We also see that these groups may have been as many as three in number; since it by no means follows that, because the Uché, Coosadas, and Alibamons are different from the Choctahs, they must be allied to each other.
Again,—one or more of the extinct tribes of South Carolina may have been an element (and a fresh one too) in the population of Florida. That such was the case with the Yamassis is almost certain, since they were destroyed by the Seminoles during the last century.
Hence, when we hear that the Creek confederacy was formed upon either the extermination or incorporation of fifteen families, we have a measure of the multiform character of the ethnology of Florida and Alabama.
Locality.—Between the rivers Mississippi and Sabine.Language.—Known by a vocabulary. Not closely connected with any other. Most like the Cherokee.
Locality.—Between the rivers Mississippi and Sabine.
Language.—Known by a vocabulary. Not closely connected with any other. Most like the Cherokee.
The provisional character of all these groups has beennoticed. This is so great that scarcely two inquirers would give the same answer to the question, "What is the difference between a member of (say) the Algonkin and one of (say) the Cherokee, Choctah, or Iroquois class?" The most extreme opinions are, perhaps, those of Gallatin, as expressed in the Synopsis, and the present writer. According to the former, the Algonkin, Iroquois, Sioux, Catawba, Cherokee, Choctah, and Caddo, and Uché languages differ from one another, as the English and Turkish, or the Greek and Lapplandic, i.e. as languages reducible to no common class, a view which makes divisions so large as the Algonkin, and so small as the Uché, equally equivalent to the great class denominated Indo-European—a doctrine by no means improbable in itself, since it differs in degree rather than in kind, from the similar juxtaposition of large and small, simple and sub-divided classes, which we find in Europe; where the isolated Basque and Albanian are, in the present state of our knowledge, co-extensive in the way of classification with the wide and varied Indo-European, Semitic, and Ugrian groups.
The present writer allows a value, equal to that expressed by the termIndo-Europeanto three groups only, the first of which contains the Algonkin, which is apparently more different from the others than they are from each other; the second, the Uché, which, although it has several miscellaneous affinities, is not at present subordinated to any other class; and the third, the remainder,i.e.the Iroquois, Sioux, Catawba, Cherokee, Choctah, and Caddo, or (probably) the Iroquois, Sioux, and Cherokee, as primary divisions, to the last of which the Catawba, Choctah, and Caddo are subordinate. This is the very utmost he would do, in the way of recognising differences. He will, however, hereafter give reasons fordoing less. At present the notification of fresh divisions of the population is continued.
Locality.—Banks of the Mississippi, in the parts about the present city of the same name. Extinct, or incorporated. The last remnant of the Natchez occupied a small village on the River Talipoosa, in Alabama.Language.—Known through a single vocabulary. Not closely connected with any other; but with miscellaneous affinities.
Locality.—Banks of the Mississippi, in the parts about the present city of the same name. Extinct, or incorporated. The last remnant of the Natchez occupied a small village on the River Talipoosa, in Alabama.
Language.—Known through a single vocabulary. Not closely connected with any other; but with miscellaneous affinities.
Great prominence in Indian history has been given to the Natchez from the destruction, at their hands, of the first French colony planted within their territory, in 1729, followed by an almost exterminating revenge on the part of the French, in the following year.
And great prominence is no more than is required for them in Indian ethnology.
They flattened the head.—There is evidence to this in the account of Du Pratz; and there is evidence to it in the fact of the disinterred skulls from the Natchez area, examined by Morton, bearing marks of compression. This, however, is what we have already seen, to the east of them,i.e.amongst the Choctahs.
They practised human sacrifices on the death of their chief.
They not only worshipped the sun, but (like the ancient Romans) kept burning an eternal fire.
Their religion so far acted upon their social or political constitution, as to develop a sort ofcaste-system, the principal chief being theGreat Sun, and his children,suns; whilst the portion of the tribe not supposed to be so descended, were destitute of civil power.
Their nobility was transmitted through thefemale.
Such is a brief notice of the customs of the Natchez, which more or less differentiate them from the neighbouring tribes, with which (the Chetimachas excepted) they are said to have had but little intercourse.
Competent investigators consider that more than one of these peculiarities point to a Mexican origin, a view which is considered to be confirmed by the Natchez traditions doing the same; these being to the effect that their nation migrated from Mexico at two different periods.
Locality.—Originally conterminous with the Natchez. If the same as theTensaws, they are, at present, on thewestof the Mississippi. Special evidence to their temples being of the same kind with those of the Natchez inA. D.1682.—Gallatin's Synopsis, p. 115.
Locality.—Originally conterminous with the Natchez. If the same as theTensaws, they are, at present, on thewestof the Mississippi. Special evidence to their temples being of the same kind with those of the Natchez inA. D.1682.—Gallatin's Synopsis, p. 115.
Locality.—Red River of Louisiana; originally on the River Pascagoula. If the same as the Bayagoulas, there is special evidence to their worship of the sun and fire.—Gallatin's Synopsis, p. 114.
Locality.—Red River of Louisiana; originally on the River Pascagoula. If the same as the Bayagoulas, there is special evidence to their worship of the sun and fire.—Gallatin's Synopsis, p. 114.
Locality.—In 1721 near the present site of New Orleans. Extinct or incorporated.
Locality.—In 1721 near the present site of New Orleans. Extinct or incorporated.
Present locality.—Below Natchitoches. Originally east of the Mississippi. Probably in the same class with the two preceding.
Present locality.—Below Natchitoches. Originally east of the Mississippi. Probably in the same class with the two preceding.
The notion that the Taensas, Pascagoulas, Colapissas, and Biluxi, belong to the Natchez family, is favoured by certain facts and traversed by none. This is not the case with—
Conterminous.—with the Natchez, from whom they differed in language, and (probably) in customs as well, but with whom they were united in the way of political confederation. Extinct or incorporated.Language.—Known through a single vocabulary. Not closely connected with any other, but with miscellaneous affinities.
Conterminous.—with the Natchez, from whom they differed in language, and (probably) in customs as well, but with whom they were united in the way of political confederation. Extinct or incorporated.
Language.—Known through a single vocabulary. Not closely connected with any other, but with miscellaneous affinities.
Of two skulls exhumed from a cemetery within the Chetimacha area, and examined by Morton, neither gives evidence of artificial compression.
Original locality.—East of the Mississippi, above New Orleans, "of whom a few are said to remain below Manchac, and others to be found in the vicinity of the Attacapas."—Gallatin, p. 115.
Original locality.—East of the Mississippi, above New Orleans, "of whom a few are said to remain below Manchac, and others to be found in the vicinity of the Attacapas."—Gallatin, p. 115.
Original locality.—Opposite the mouth of the Red River.Present locality.—Avoyelle, on the Red River.
Original locality.—Opposite the mouth of the Red River.
Present locality.—Avoyelle, on the Red River.
Present locality.—West of the Mississippi.Original locality.—West Florida.
Present locality.—West of the Mississippi.
Original locality.—West Florida.
There is the special evidence of Dr. Sibley, the chief authority for the Indians west of the Mississippi, that the Humas, Tunicas, Biluxas, and Pascagoulas, each speak (or spoke) a different language.
The tribes which now follow are considered by Dr. Sibley to beindigenousto the country west of the Mississippi; those last-mentioned having moved thither from the present states of Mississippi, Alabama, and West Florida, within the memory of man, or at least within the period of authentic history.
They chiefly lie to the east of the River Sabine; (i.e.between that river and the Mississippi), so as to belong to the original area of the United States, rather than to Texas, a distinction of importance; inasmuch as, whilst the ethnology of the parts which belonged to the United States inA. D.1836,[128]is, comparatively speaking, well understood, that of Texas is still fragmentary and imperfect.
As far, however, as the Sabine, Dr. Sibley is the chief first-hand authority.
Divisions.—1. Natchitoches. 2. Yatassis.Numbers.—In 1836, about 150, together.Language.—Stated by Dr. Sibley to be different from any other.—Gallatin, p. 116.
Divisions.—1. Natchitoches. 2. Yatassis.
Numbers.—In 1836, about 150, together.
Language.—Stated by Dr. Sibley to be different from any other.—Gallatin, p. 116.
Conterminouswith the Natchitoches and Yatassis.Language.—Known by a vocabulary. With no particular, but with miscellaneous affinities.—Gallatin's Synopsis.Numbers.—In 1836, about fifty.
Conterminouswith the Natchitoches and Yatassis.
Language.—Known by a vocabulary. With no particular, but with miscellaneous affinities.—Gallatin's Synopsis.
Numbers.—In 1836, about fifty.
Numbers.—In 1836, about 40. Said by Dr. Sibley to speak a distinct language.Locality.—The district so called.
Numbers.—In 1836, about 40. Said by Dr. Sibley to speak a distinct language.
Locality.—The district so called.
Numbers.—In 1836, about 50. Said to have been cannibals and flat-heads.Language.—Known by a vocabulary. With no special but with miscellaneous affinities.Divisions.—1, Attacapas; 2, Carankuas. At least this latter tribe, according to Dr. Sibley, speaks the same language with the Attacapas.—Gallatin, 116.
Numbers.—In 1836, about 50. Said to have been cannibals and flat-heads.
Language.—Known by a vocabulary. With no special but with miscellaneous affinities.
Divisions.—1, Attacapas; 2, Carankuas. At least this latter tribe, according to Dr. Sibley, speaks the same language with the Attacapas.—Gallatin, 116.
Now if the Karanchuhuas of Texas be the Carankua Attacapas, the extension of that family is remarkable, since the locality of the Karanchuhuas is sea-coast about Matagorda Bay. Again,—the Cokes are a branch (extinct or nearly so) of the Karanchuhuas.
Having reached the River Sabine, we may look both west and east. Eastward the question lies as to the extent to which the present list has been exhaustive—if not of individual tribes, at least of families and groups. Now the Creeks and Choctahs have been tribes of anencroachingarea; whilst as special fact, we find that inA.D.1763, the Colooses retreated before the Creeks: first to the extremity of Florida, and afterwards to the Havannah. Upon good grounds, then, it has been believed that the natives of Florida, anterior to the spread of the Creeks, were other than Creek or Choctah. Into how many divisions this Floridian population fell, and amongst what known families (if any) it was divided, is unascertained. It might be one. It might be distributable amongst many—Uché, Catawba, Natchez, &c. It might, too, be represented by a wholly extinct family. Probably it was Uché on the south-west, and Catawba on the north. The Yamassis may have been the latter, the Colooses the former. Still the question is wholly open.
Westward we come to Texas. Now the imperfect and fragmentary character of our information makes the consideration of the Texian Indians (known by little beyondtheir names) most conveniently follow the enumeration of the tribes to the north and west of them—besides which, four unplaced families have still to be enumerated as belonging to, and interrupting the great Algonkin and Sioux areas.
Synonym.—Arrapahoes(?)—Fall Indians, from their locality.Locality.—The Falls of the River Saskatchewan.Language.—Peculiar.
Synonym.—Arrapahoes(?)—Fall Indians, from their locality.
Locality.—The Falls of the River Saskatchewan.
Language.—Peculiar.
A tribe of this name is placed in Mr. Catlin's map, in California, on one of the eastern feeders of the Colorado, in the latitude of Santa Fé.
The Arrapahoes, again, according to Gallatin, are a detached tribe of the Ahnenin, who have wandered as far south as the Platte and Arkansas Rivers.
The identity, when ascertained, of name, isprimâ facieof this. Still it is not much more. On the other hand the fact is by no means improbable. A vocabulary of the southern Arrapahoes has yet to be collected.
Locality.—The Missouri, about 150 miles below the Mandans.
Locality.—The Missouri, about 150 miles below the Mandans.
The Riccarees have been classed in the section next following. The scanty vocabulary, however, of the two languages, by no means justifies us in making this affinity a very close one. On the other hand, they are kept distinct in the present work, provisionally.
Locality.—-Valley of River Platte, extending as far west as its sources, and as far south as the Arkansas.Divisions.—a.The Loup Pawnees.b.The Republican Pawnees.
Locality.—-Valley of River Platte, extending as far west as its sources, and as far south as the Arkansas.
Divisions.—a.The Loup Pawnees.b.The Republican Pawnees.
The Towiatch[129]of Texas are also called Pawnees; probably improperly.
Conterminous with the Pawnees are the Paducas. Paduca is a name given to a division of the Indians, but imperfectly known, and concerning which the information found in Prichard seems to be chiefly from Pike. It is the name given, collectively, to those tribes who, on the almost unexplored parts about the head waters of the River Platte, succeed the Sioux on the south, and the Pawnees on the west. That they are conterminous with this last-named family is inferred from the name; Paduca, being no native designation, but the one given by the Pawnees.
As great extension is now given to the tribes represented by those of the parts in question, the word will be used as a general name of a class.
The most important fact, however, connected with the Paducas, is their distribution, or the configuration of the area which they occupy. The inland projection of the Gulf of Mexico so narrows the southern part of North America, that the phenomenon of a family extending, like the Eskimo and Athabaskans,acrossthe continent, may now be expected.
Farthermore, a family thus spread from the Atlantic to the Pacific, would be of greater ethnological significance than even the similarly extended Athabaskans and Eskimo; since from its central position (centralin respect to its north and south relations) it would disconnect the northern and southern populations.
Still more remarkable would be the distribution if the parts thus separated geographically, were also separated by marked contrasts in the way of language, manners, or civilization.
Now all this is the case with the great Paduca area.Spreading from the Pacific to the Atlantic, it has to the north developments like those of the Oregon and the valley of the Mississippi: to the south those of Mexico, Guatimala, and Yucatan.
The physical geography of the northern part of the Paduca area is as remarkable as is its ethnology; since it is a table-land from which four great rivers rise, to run their course in four opposite directions. There, within a small distance of each other, are the sources of the Saptin, a feeder of the Columbia running in anorth-westernly direction, of the Colorado runningsouth-west, of the Yellow-Stone branch of the Missouri, and of the Rio del Norte of Texas. This latter running in an elevated narrow valley, from about 41° N. L., through the whole of New Mexico, is preeminently the river of the Cumanch tribes; tribes of which the exact east and west direction is not ascertained, but of which the north and south area is one of the longest in America.
Direction of the Paduca area.—Oblique;i.e.from N.W. to S.E., orvice versâ.Longitudinal Extension.—From the Pacific to the Gulf of Mexico; from the water-system of the River Columbia to that of the River Sabine; from north of 45° N.L. to south of 25° S.L.Conterminous.—a.On the north with the Tototune(?), Shasti(?), Palaiks(?), Lutuami, Molele(?) Wailatpu, Sahaptins, Sioux (chiefly Upsarokas), Pawnees, Sioux (chiefly Osages), Towiach, and thenon-Paduca Indians of Texas.b.On the south, with thenon-Paduca Indians of California and Mexico.Divisions.—Value undetermined.—Wihinast, Bonaks, Diggers, Utahs, Sampiches, Shoshonis, Kiaways, Kaskaias(?), Keneways(?), Bald-heads(?), Cumanches, Navahos, Apaches, Carisos.
Direction of the Paduca area.—Oblique;i.e.from N.W. to S.E., orvice versâ.
Longitudinal Extension.—From the Pacific to the Gulf of Mexico; from the water-system of the River Columbia to that of the River Sabine; from north of 45° N.L. to south of 25° S.L.
Conterminous.—a.On the north with the Tototune(?), Shasti(?), Palaiks(?), Lutuami, Molele(?) Wailatpu, Sahaptins, Sioux (chiefly Upsarokas), Pawnees, Sioux (chiefly Osages), Towiach, and thenon-Paduca Indians of Texas.b.On the south, with thenon-Paduca Indians of California and Mexico.
Divisions.—Value undetermined.—Wihinast, Bonaks, Diggers, Utahs, Sampiches, Shoshonis, Kiaways, Kaskaias(?), Keneways(?), Bald-heads(?), Cumanches, Navahos, Apaches, Carisos.
Wihinast.—Called by Mr. Hales, Western Shoshonis, and unequivocally members of that division. Locality 45° N.L. 117° W.L., on the southern bank of the Snake or Lewis River, and conterminous with the Wailatpu. Of the Northern Paducas, these are the nearest to the Pacific, from which they are separated by the Lutuami,Umkwa and Saintskla. The evidence that the Wihinast are Shoshoni is derived from a vocabulary of their language.—Philology of the U.S.E.E.
Bonaks.—Classed with the Shoshonis on the strength of external evidence only.—Between them and the Wihinast.
Diggers.—Classed with the Shoshonis on the strength of external evidence only.—They are a poverty-stricken tribe of the Californian Desert, who live bydiggingfor roots.
Utahs.—Classed with the Shoshonis, &c.—Occupants of the parts about the Utah Lake.
Sampiches.—Classed with, &c.—South of the Utahs. Manner of life like that of the Diggers.
Shoshonis.—These are the Paducas which are at once the most northern and the most eastern of the group. They also are remarkable for occupying both sides of the Rocky Mountains, and are bounded on the north by the Sahaptin, and on the east by the Sioux, west by the Bonaks and Wihinast, and south by the Proper Paducas of Pike.
Kiaways,Kaskaias,Keneways,Bald-heads.—Of these I know little, except that they seem to fill up the area between the Shoshonis and the—
Cumanches.—The chief Indians of Texas.—It is the ethnological position of the Cumanches that determines the extent of the Paduca group. That the Kiaways, &c., are Cumanche is believed on external evidence, and on thea prioriprobability. That the Cumanche are Shoshoni is believed upon external evidence by those Americans who have had means of forming an opinion, and also upon the evidence of a short MS. vocabulary of the Cumanche, with which the present writer was favoured byMr. Bollaert, compared with an equally short one of the Shoshoni in Gallatin's Synopsis. This was in 1844;[130]since which time, although thedatafor the Shoshoni have greatly increased, those of the Cumanche are as imperfect as ever. Still the author has but little doubt as to the truth of the opinion of the Shoshoni affinity with the Cumanche, or (changing the expression) of the common Paduca character of the two.
Navahos.—Considered Paduca, because they are stated to be akin to the—
Apaches.—who are stated to be akin to the Cumanche, and who are widely spread both westward and southward of the area of the Proper Cumanche, between the River Puercos and the Rio Del Norte. In Chihuahua, and Cohuahuila (especially in the Bolson de Mapimi), we find tribes under the names of Apaches Farones, and Apaches Mescaleros, extending—in their incursions at least—as far as the interior of Durango. Of the Apaches, the—
Carisos.—are said to be a branch.
Such are the members of the great Paduca family, to which it is safest, in the present imperfect state of our knowledge, to give an ethnological position, subject to correction from future investigations; which, necessary in most departments of the science, are preeminently necessary here.
How far the prominence thus given to a section of the American population, which is generally disposed of in a short notice, is necessary, is to be found in its geographical relations to Mexico and California on the one hand, and to the Indians of Oregon and the Mississippi on the other.
The Cumanches are the chief Indians of Texas; hence,from the north and west of that state they form an ethnological boundary. The names (all that the author can give) of the Texian tribes not already included in the several extensions of the Cumanche, Pawnee, Sioux, Cherokee, Choctah, Natchez, and other smaller families, are—
Knowing of no vocabulary of the Coshatta language, I am unable to say what it is or is not. The tribe is a member of the Creek confederacy. It is not indigenous to its present locality, having immigrated from the east of the Mississippi. In a notice of the earlier Creek confederation we find mention ofCussetahs, and in connection with the Alibamons,Coosadason the RiverCoosa. The former of these facts suggests a Creek, the latter a Uché, affinity. Still, it gives nothing more than a suggestion.