during the hunting seasons that the elders of the tribe will reveal to
the young warriors all the records of their history; and were a learned
European to assist at one of these "lectures upon antiquity," he would
admit that, in harmony, eloquence, strength of argument, and deduction,
the red-coloured orator could not easily be surpassed.

The Shoshones have a clear and lucid recollection of the far countries
whence they have emigrated. They do not allude to any particular period,
but they must have been among the first comers, for they relate with
great topographical accuracy all the bloody struggles they had to
sustain against newer emigrants. Often beaten, they were never
conquered, and have always occupied the ground which they had selected
from the beginning.

Unlike the great families of the Dahcotahs and Algonquins, who yet
retain the predominant characteristics of the wandering nations of
South-west Asia, the Shoshones seem to have been in all ages a nation
warlike, though stationary. It is evident that they never were a wealthy
people, nor possessed any great knowledge of the arts and sciences.
Their records of a former country speak of rich mountainous districts,
with balmy breezes, and trees covered with sweet and beautiful fruits;
but when they mention large cities, palaces, temples, and gardens, it is
always in reference to other nations, with whom they were constantly at
war; and these traditions would induce us to believe that they are
descendants of the Mancheoux Tartars.

They have in their territory on both sides of the Buona Ventura river
many magnificent remains of devastated cities; but although connected
with a former period of their history, they were not erected by the
Shoshones.