and complete knowledge of the manners and habits of the people, than still more copious general remarks and reflections. The Minnetarees, in common with several other nations of our Indians, have the strange tradition of their origin, that they formerly lived under ground. "Two boys," say they, "strayed away from them, and absented themselves several days. At length they returned and informed the nation that they had discovered another world, situate above their present residence, where all was beautiful and light. They saw the sun, the earth, the Missouri, and the bison. This account so delighted the people, that they immediately abandoned their subterranean dwelling, and, led by the boys, arrived on the surface of the earth, at the spot which their villages now occupy, and where they have dwelt ever since. "Soon after they had established themselves in this new world, a party of strange men appeared mounted on horses. They attacked these wonderful Centaurs with their bows and arrows, and succeeded in killing one of them, on which the others fled. Not at first perceiving that the man and horse were two distinct animals, they were surprised to see the former fall to the earth, as if one part of the compound animal was dead and the other part still active, having received no injury. They at length succeeded in securing the horse, and after admiring the beauty of his form, and becoming familiar with him, they proceeded to tie one of their young men upon his back with cords, that he might not fall off; the horse was then led cautiously by the bridle, until finally he became sufficiently fearless to ride alone." They seem to have full faith in the notion that, at their death, they will be restored to the mansions of their ancestors under ground, from which they are intercepted by a large and rapid watercourse. this river, which may be compared to the Styx of the ancients, they are obliged to pass on a very narrow Over footway. Those Indians who have been useful to the nation, such as brave warriors or good hunters, pass over with ease, and arrive safely at the A-pah-he, or ancient village. But the worthless Indians slip off from the bridge or footway, into the stream that foams beneath in the swiftness of its course, which hurries them into oblivion, or Lethe. The Mandans, according to Lewis and Clarke, have a tradition somewhat similar, and it strongly reminds us of the Alsirat of Mahomet, over which, it was supposed, that great leader was to conduct his Moslems to the bliss of futurity, whilst the unworthy were precipitated into the gulf which yawned beneath it. APPENDIX A. ANIMALS. A Catalogue of the Names of Animals, which we observed at Engineer Cantonment, or at other indicated places, on our journey to that post. MAMMALIA. Vespertilio novaboracensis, L.-New-York bat. Scalops aquaticus- Mole. Ursus Americanus, (gularis, Geoff.)-Black bear. Taxus labradoricus - Badger. Mustela minx - Mink. vison. Mephitis putorius (chinche, Buff. Cuv.)- Skunk. Arctomys monax Maryland marmot. Mus agrarius? Rustic mouse. Arvicola Zanthognatha, Leach-Meadow mouse (on the Ohio). Mus musculus introduced by our expedition. Pseudostoma bursaria - Pouched rat. Sciurus cinereus - Gray squirrel. capistratus -White-nosed do. nigra - Black. do. do. Lepus Americanus - Rabbit. Cervus major-Elk. Virginianus - Virginian deer. Antilocapra Americana, Ord. - Prong-horned antelope. Bos bison, Gmel. — Bison. BIRDS. Vultur (Cathartes Illig.) aura— - Turkey buzzard. Falco (Haliatus, Sav.) leucocephalus-Bald eagle. (Pandion, Sav.) haliætus? Fish-hawk. (Accipitur, V.) ruficaudus, Vieil. (F. Borealis, L. Wilson) — American buzzard, Lath. (Circus, Bech.) uliginosus -Marsh-hawk. Buteo (galinivorus, Vieil. - Great hen, H. (Milvus, Bech.) furcatus Swallow-tailed falcon, Lath. (Tinnunculus, Vieil.) sparverius American sparrow-hawk. - (Aquila, Briss.) fulvus — Ring-tailed eagle, Wilson; war-eagle of the Omawhaws. lineatus, Gm. Wils.-Red-shouldered hawk. Mississippi. Mississippiensis, Wilson - Mississippi kite. Strix (Otus, Cuv.) otus-Long-eared owl. (do. Virginian-eared do.) asio-Red-eared owl, Lath. Screech-owl. |