Note 179 — {137} CHAPTER VIII
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The Ietan Indians, more commonly known as Comanche, were a branch of the Shoshoni family. Their range was the upper Arkansas, Canadian, and Red rivers.
On the Pawnee and Pawnee Loups, see respectively Brackenridge's Journal, in our volume vi, note 17, and Bradbury's Travels, in our volume v, note 44. The Pawnee nation consisted of four principal tribes: 1. Pawnee proper (Grand Pawnee); 2. Pawnee Republican, who dwelt on the Republican fork of Kansas River; 3. Tapage, on the Platte; 4. Pawnee Loups (Skidi; Pani-mahas).
The Omaha and Ponca were closely related tribes of Siouan stock. For their early history and present condition, see our volume v, notes 49, 63.
The Sioux (Dakota) were the chief branch of the great family to which they have given their name. The branch was divided into a number of tribes, including the Yankton and Teton, mentioned below in the text.
Sketches of the Osage, Sauk and Foxes, and Iowa will be found in our volume v, notes 21, 22.
The Padouca were a powerful tribe when visited by Bourgmont in 1724 (see succeeding volume, note 29), but the nation disintegrated and lost its identity before the close of the eighteenth century, if, indeed, the name was not from the beginning applied collectively to several kindred tribes of the plains. Their habitat was the banks of the upper Kansas River; later they removed to the Platte, the North Fork of which is sometimes designated by their name.
The Indians here called La Plais (La Playes) were reported by Lewis and Clark (Statistical View) to be a numerous tribe of Shoshoni stock, inhabiting the plains at the heads of the Arkansas and Red rivers. Later authorities seem not to have distinguished them from the kindred Comanche.—Ed.