'2'2 A SYNOPSIS OF THE INDIAN TRIBES. [iNTROD. that they had a war with the Hurons and the Ottowas of Lake Michigan, who had taken refuge in that quarter, and compelled them to abandon the country. The French carried on a trade with them from their post at Prairie du Chien on the Mississippi ; but it is only very lately that they have come into contact with the Americans. Carver was the first who visited them, and gave a short vocabulary of their language, which is generally correct.* It may be observed that, considering the short time which Carver resided among the Indians, and that he derived his in- formation of the country north of St. Anthony's Falls almost entirely from Indian reports, his geographical notices of the upper Mississippi were remarkably correct. He is the first who placed the sources of that river within about forty miles of their actual position, in the vicinity of the Red Lake of the Red River of Lake Winnipek, and south of the Lake of the Woods. The map annexed to the original edition of his Travels was published during his life, in the year 1778, but does not appear to have been deemed authentic by the com- missioners who negotiated the treaty of peace of 1783. The pretended grant of lands from the Indians to him is neither alluded to, nor annexed to that original edition. It made its first appearance after his death, and in subsequent editions. The four most eastern tribes of the Dahcotas are known by the name of Mendewahlcantoan, or " Gens du Lac," WaKkpatodn and Wahlcpa'kotoan, or " People of the Leaves," and Sisitoans. The first of these is the only one that cultivates the ground, and occupies, on the east side of the Mississippi, a tract of country extending from the Prairie du Chien, in the forty-third, to the Spirit Lake, north of the forty-sixth degree of north latitude. The three other, inhabit the country between the Mississippi and the St. Peter's, and that on the southern tributaries of this river, as well as that which lies on the head waters of the Red River of Lake Winnipek. These four are better known to us than the more westerly tribes ; and their aggregate number may be fairly estimated at about five thousand souls. The three westerly tribes, the Yanktons, the Yanktoanans, and the Tetons, wander between the Mississippi and the Mis- souri, extending southerly to the forty-third degree of north
- That which he has given of the Chippeways is only a transcript
of that of La Hontan, spelt according to the English orthography.
