Reports of explorations and surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean: Vol. 1, Pt. 2

INDIAN TRIBES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
1st. The number of tribes to be included within this agency is one, known generally as the
Blackfoot nation. Their general locality, which is understood to mean the country in which
they reside or hunt, is bounded as follows: By a line beginning on the north, where the 50th
parallel crosses the Rocky mountains; thence east on said parallel to the 106th meridian; thence
south to the headwaters of the Milk river, down said river to the Missouri, up the Missouri to
the mouth of the Judith; thence up the Judith to its source to the Rocky mountains, and north
along their base to place of beginning.
The country between the Missouri and the headwaters of the Yellowstone is unoccupied.
It is the great road of the Blackfoot war parties to and from the C.rows, Flatheads, and Snakes.
It may also be considered as a transient hunting ground of the Flaitheads, as they hunt buffalo
there for a short time in the fall.
2d. The Blackfoot nation is divided into four distinct tribes or bands, whose names, numbers, and localities are as follows:
The Bloods................ 350 lodges;
The Blackfeet............... 250
The Piegans................ 350
The Gros Ventres.............360
2,450 population; 875 warriors.
1,750 625
2,450 875
2,520 900
Total.........I......1,3t0
The Bloods and BlackFeet occupy the country upon the source of the Marias and Milk rivers
to the 50th parallel of latitude.
The Piegans occupy the country between Milk and Marias rivers, upon Marias river and the
Teton, and between the Teton and the Missouri.
The Gros Ventres occupy the country bordering upon Milk river from its mouth to the territory of the Piegans. These Gros Ventres, although incorporated with and now considered a part
of the Blackfoot nation, are clearly a band of Arrapahoes who seceded from their nation some
forty years since, passed over to the Crow Indians, were plundered and killed by that nation,
losing many of their women and nearly all their horses and guns. They wandered over this
country several years, plundered two forts at the north, were driven away by the Kootenaies;
and finally, in a destitute and miserable condition, settled some thirty years since in the country
they now occupy. The Blackfoot nation in a manner adopted them, i.e., made a lasting peace,
and gave them many horses. The traders supplied them with guns and ammunition; their
horses increased; they made many robes and soon became wealthy, and are now more independent, saucy, and unfriendly to the whites than any other band of the Blackfeet.
The Bloods, Piegans, and Blackfeet speak the same language peculiar to the Blackfoot nation.
The Gros Ventres speak the Arrapahoe language, which is not understood by any white man
or Indian, not of their tribe, in this country. Most of the Gros Ventres, however, speak the
Blackfoot sufficiently for purposes of trade.
3d. Their character is warlike. They are warriors and horse-thieves by profession and practice, and are always at war with some or all of the neighboring nations.
Their present disposition towards the whites is unquestionably friendly. Undoubtedly, a party
of white men may travel through this country in perfect safety. The only danger would be, that
the Indians might take them for Indian enemies and rush upon them in the night. Their horses
might be stolen, unless under the protection of a chief or an influential white man, one who is
friendly and well known to them.
4th. The only white inhabitants of this country are the traders and their employes at the
American Fur Company's post, Fort Benton, and at Mr. Harvey's, or the opposition fort.
These are on friendly terms with the Indians, as is evidenced by the fact that they are con
443
9,170
3,275