Shoshone Indians, or Snake Indians,
Believed to have formed a distinct nation of
North American Indians, inhabiting a portion of the country west of and among the
Rocky Mountains.
They embraced a number of warlike tribes, among whom the Comanches are best known in American history.
According to their traditions, they came from the
South.
When
Lewis and
Clarke saw them, in 1805, they had been driven beyond the
Rocky Mountains.
They were widespread, and generally peaceful.
The bands of Shoshones have gone by various names.
The overland emigrants to
California met them in the
Great Salt Lake region, on the
Humboldt River, and at other places.
Soon after that emigration began, these bands assumed a hostile attitude towards the white people, and in 1849 some of them were engaged in open war. Short periods of peace were obtained by treaties, and finally, in 1864, some of the Shoshones ceded their lands to the
United States.
The non-fulfilment of the agreement on the part of the latter caused the Indians to begin hostilities again.
In 1867 a treaty was made at
Fort Bridger, after which the United States government attempted to gather the scattered bands on reservations, and partially succeeded.
One reservation (
Fort Hall) in
Idaho contained at one time 1,200 of the tribe; and 800 were on a reservation in
Wyoming Territory, exposed to attacks from the
Sioux.
In 1899 there were 1,016 Shoshones at the
Fort Hall agency,
Idaho; 215 at the Lemhi agency, in the same State; and 842 at the Shoshone agency in
Wyoming.
