344

THE

INDIAN

TRIBES WEST

OF T H E

MISSISSIPPI:

" T l i e s maller M i n i t a r i t ribes, between the mouth of the Yellowstone and the site of the M an dan v illages, and the extensive n ation o f the Gros Ventres, inhabiting the eastern slope of fte E ocky M ountains, spoke the same language w ith the Crows, jt one very nearly a llied to it. The Arapahoes, numbering some three thousand, and dwelling about the sources of the Platte and A rkansas rivers, belonged to the race of the Blackfeet." T he Arapahoes were for many years at war w ith the Flathead and other tribes s till f urther westward. The descent of     these remote bands upon the plains i n pursuit of buffalo, was deemed by the Blackfeet a signal infringement of t lieir rights, a nd fierce battles often resulted from the conflicting claims of t he r ival n ations. A l o n g t he B o c k y Mountains and t lieir w estern slopes, and on the plains drained by the sources of the Columbia, were the N ez-Perces, or Pierced-Eose Indians, the Flatheads and the P ends Orcilles, or Flanging E ars. T hese stragling tribes were at continual war w ith n early all the western tribes, aud were, m ore particularly enemies of the Blackfeet. A t one time a n umber of Blackfeet prisoners f ell i nto the hands of the Flatheads, and although the latter were usually a k ind, hospitable race, they thrust upon their captives upon this occasion every species of torture w ith a v iew to o vercome the far-famed courage and fortitude of the Blackfeet. B u t it was all in vain. O ne exulted over his tormentors, vaunting his own deeds in the following language: " M y heart is strong.   Vou do not h urt m e. Yon c an't hurt me. T o u are fools. You do not k now how to torture. T r y i t again. I don't feel any pain y et. "We torture your relations a great deal better, because we m ake them cry out loud, l ike l ittle c hildren. You are not b rave; you have small hearts, and you are always afraid to f ight." T hen speaking to one of his captors, he said: " I t was b y my arrow you lost your eye;" upon which the Flathead d arted at h i m , and w ith a k nife, i n a moment scooped out one of his e yes; at the same time cutting the bridge of his nose n early i n two. This did not stop h i m ; w ith the remaining eye he looked sternly at another, and said, " I k illed your b rother, and I scalped your old fool of a father." The warrior