No. I.
On the Origin of the Otos, Joways, and Missouris; a tradition communicated by an old chief to Major Bean, the Indian agent.
Some time in the year (it was before the arrival of the Whites in America) a large band of Indians, who call
themselves Fish-eaters (Hoton-ga), who inhabit the lakes, being discontented, concluded that they would migrate to the
south-west in pursuit of the buffalo, and accordingly did so. At Lake Puant they divided, and that part which
remained, still continued their original name in Indian, but from some cause or other the Whites called them Winnebagos.
The rest, more enterprizing, still continued on the journey, until they reached the Mississippi and the mouth of the Joway
River, where they encamped on the sand-beach and again divided, one band concluding not to go farther, and those who
still wished to go on called this band, which still remained encamped on the sand-beach, Pa-ho-dje, or Dust-noses; but
the Whites, who first discovered them on the Joway River, called them Joways (Ayowäs). The rest of them continued
on their direction, and struck the Missouri at the mouth of the Grand River. Having only two principal chiefs left, they
here gave themselves the name of Neu-ta-che, which means "those that arrive at the mouth," but were called by the
Whites the Missouris. One of their chiefs had an only son, the other chief had a beautiful daughter, and, having both
a gentle blood, thought no harm to absent themselves for a night or two together, which raised the anger of the
unfortunate girl's father to such a pitch, that he marshalled his band and prepared for battle. They however settled it so
far as not to come to blows, but the father of the unfortunate son separated from the others, and continued still farther
up the Missouri, whereupon they called themselves Wagh-toch-tat-ta, and by what means I know not they have got the
name Otos. The Fish-eaters, or the Winnebagos as we call them, still continued east of the Missisippi of the State of
Illinois. The Joways, having ceded to the United States all their title to the lands they first settled, have moved West of
the State of Missouri, between the waters of the Missouri and the Little Platte. The Missouris, having been unfortunate
at war with the Osages, here again separated, and a part of them live now with the Joways, and a part with the Otos.
The Otos continued still up the Missouri until they arrived at the Big Platte, which empties into the Missouri, when
they crossed and lived some time a little above its mouth, but of late years have resided about 80 miles (by water) from
the Missouri, on the Platte River.
