These Yanktons are about two hundred men in number, and inhabit the Jacques, Des Moines, and Sioux Rivers.

In person they are stout, well proportioned, and have a certain air of dignity and boldness.

In their dress they differ nothing from the other bands of the nation whom we met afterwards." Of the Sioux let us say here, there are many bands, or subdivisions.
Some writers make eighteen of these principal branches.

But the first importance is given to the Sioux proper, or Dakotas.

The name "Sioux" is one of reproach, given by their enemies, and signifies "snake;" whereas "Dakota" means "friend" or "ally." The Lewis and Clark journal says of the Yankton-Sioux:-- "What struck us most was an institution peculiar to them and to the Kite (Crow) Indians further to the westward, from whom it is said to have been copied.