A week or more has elapsed since the date of my last Letter, and
nothing as yet of the great and curious event—or the _Mandan religious
ceremony_. There is evidently much preparation making for it,
however; and from what I can learn, no one in the nation, save the
_medicine-men_, have any knowledge of the exact day on which it is to
commence. I am informed by the chiefs, that it takes place as soon as
the willow-tree is in full leaf; for, say they, “the twig which the
bird brought in was a willow bough, and had full-grown leaves on it.”
So it seems that this celebration has some relation to the Flood.
This great occasion is close at hand, and will, undoubtedly, commence
in a few days; in the meantime I will give a few notes and memorandums,
which I have made since my last.
I have been continually at work with my brush, with fine and
picturesque subjects before me; and from the strange, whimsical,
and superstitious notions which they have of an art so novel and
unaccountable to them, I have been initiated into many of their
mysteries—have witnessed many very curious incidents, and preserved
several anecdotes, some of which I must relate.
Perhaps nothing ever more completely astonished these people than the
operations of my _brush_. The art of portrait-painting was a subject
entirely new to them, and of course, unthought of; and my appearance
here has commenced a new era in the arcana of _medicine_ or mystery.
Soon after arriving here, I commenced and finished the portraits of
the two principal chiefs. This was done without having awakened the
curiosity of the villagers, as they had heard nothing of what was going
on, and even the chiefs themselves seemed to be ignorant of my designs,
until the pictures were completed. No one else was admitted into my
lodge during the operation; and when finished, it was exceedingly
amusing to see them mutually recognizing each other’s likeness, and
assuring each other of the striking resemblance which they bore to the
originals. Both of these pressed their hand over their mouths awhile
in dead silence (a custom amongst most tribes, when anything surprises
them very much); looking attentively upon the portraits and myself, and
upon the palette and colours with which these unaccountable effects had
been produced.
They then walked up to me in the most gentle manner, taking me in
turn by the hand, with a firm grip; with head and eyes inclined
downwards, and in a tone a little above a whisper—pronounced the words
“te-ho-pe-nee Wash-ee!” and walked off.
Readers, at that moment I was christened with a new and a great
name—one by which I am now familiarly hailed, and talked of in this
village; and no doubt will be, as long as traditions last in this
strange community.
That moment conferred an honour on me, which you as yet do not
understand. I took the degree (not of Doctor of Laws, nor Bachelor of
Arts) of Master of Arts—of mysteries—of magic, and of hocus pocus.
I was recognized in that short sentence as a “great _medicine white
man_;” and since that time, have been regularly installed _medicine_ or
mystery, which is the most honourable degree that could be conferred
upon me here; and I now hold a place amongst the most eminent and
envied personages, the doctors and conjurati of this titled community.
Te-ho-pe-nee Wash-ee (or medicine white man) is the name I now go by,
and it will prove to me, no doubt, of more value than gold, for I have
been called upon and feasted by the doctors, who are all mystery-men;
and it has been an easy and successful passport already to many strange
and mysterious places; and has put me in possession of a vast deal of
curious and interesting information, which I am sure I never should
have otherwise learned. I am daily growing in the estimation of the
medicine-men and the chiefs; and by assuming all the gravity and
circumspection due from so high a dignitary (and even considerably
more); and endeavouring to perform now and then some art or trick that
is unfathomable, I am in hopes of supporting my standing, until the
great annual ceremony commences; on which occasion, I may possibly be
allowed a seat in the _medicine-lodge_ by the doctors, who are the sole
conductors of this great source and fountain of all priestcraft and
conjuration in this country.
After I had finished the portraits of the two chiefs, and they had
returned to their wigwams, and deliberately seated themselves by their
respective fire-sides, and silently smoked a pipe or two (according
to an universal custom), they gradually began to tell what had taken
place; and at length crowds of gaping listeners, with mouths wide open,
thronged their lodges; and a throng of women and girls were about my
house, and through every crack and crevice I could see their glistening
eyes, which were piercing my hut in a hundred places, from a natural
and restless propensity, a curiosity to see what was going on within.
An hour or more passed in this way, and the soft and silken throng
continually increased, until some hundreds of them were clung, and
piled about my wigwam like a swarm of bees hanging on the front and
sides of their hive.
During this time, not a man made his appearance about the
premises—after awhile, however, they could be seen, folded in their
robes, gradually _siding_ up towards the lodge, with a silly look upon
their faces, which confessed at once that curiosity was leading them
reluctantly, where their pride checked and forbade them to go. The
rush soon after became general, and the chiefs and medicine-men took
possession of my room, placing _soldiers_ (braves with spears in their
hands) at the door, admitting no one, but such as were allowed by the
chiefs, to come in.
Monsr. Kipp (the agent of the Fur Company, who has lived here eight
years, and to whom, for his politeness and hospitality, I am much
indebted), at this time took a seat with the chiefs, and, speaking
their language fluently, he explained to them my views and the objects
for which I was painting these portraits; and also expounded to them
the manner in which they were made,—at which they seemed all to be very
much pleased. The necessity at this time of exposing the portraits to
the view of the crowds who were assembled around the house, became
imperative, and they were held up together over the door, so that
the whole village had a chance to see and recognize their chiefs.
The effect upon so mixed a multitude, who as yet had heard no way of
accounting for them, was novel and really laughable. The likenesses
were instantly recognized, and many of the gaping multitude commenced
yelping; some were stamping off in the jarring dance—others were
singing, and others again were crying—hundreds covered their mouths
with their hands and were mute; others, indignant, drove their spears
frightfully into the ground, and some threw a reddened arrow at the
sun, and went home to their wigwams.
The pictures seen,—the next curiosity was to see the man who made them,
and I was called forth. Readers! if you have any imagination, save me
the trouble of painting this scene. * * * * * * *
* * I stepped forth, and was instantly hemmed in in the throng.
Women were gaping and gazing—and warriors and braves were offering me
their hands,—whilst little boys and girls, by dozens, were struggling
through the crowd to touch me with the ends of their fingers; and
whilst I was engaged, from the waist upwards, in fending off the throng
and shaking hands, my legs were assailed (not unlike the nibbling of
little fish, when I have been standing in deep water) by children, who
were creeping between the legs of the bystanders for the curiosity or
honour of touching me with the end of their finger. The eager curiosity
and expression of astonishment with which they gazed upon me, plainly
shewed that they looked upon me as some strange and unaccountable
being. They pronounced me the greatest _medicine-man_ in the world;
for they said I had made _living beings_,—they said they could see
their chiefs alive, in two places—those that I had made were a _little_
alive—they could see their eyes move—could see them smile and laugh,
and that if they could laugh they could certainly speak, if they should
try, and they must therefore have _some life_ in them.
The squaws generally agreed, that they had discovered life enough in
them to render my _medicine_ too great for the Mandans; saying that
such an operation could not be performed without taking away from the
original something of his existence, which I put in the picture, and
they could see it move, could see it stir.
This curtailing of the natural existence, for the purpose of
instilling life into the secondary one, they decided to be an useless
and destructive operation, and one which was calculated to do great
mischief in their happy community; and they commenced a mournful and
doleful chaunt against me, crying and weeping bitterly through the
village, proclaiming me a most “dangerous man; one who could make
living persons by looking at them; and at the same time, could, as
a matter of course, destroy life in the same way, if I chose. That
my medicine was dangerous to their lives, and that I must leave the
village immediately. That bad luck would happen to those whom I
painted—that I was to take a part of the existence of those whom I
painted, and carry it home with me amongst the white people, and that
when they died they would never sleep quiet in their graves.”
In this way the women and some old quack medicine-men together,
had succeeded in raising an opposition against me; and the reasons
they assigned were so plausible and so exactly suited for their
superstitious feelings, that they completely succeeded in exciting
fears and a general panic in the minds of a number of chiefs who had
agreed to sit for their portraits, and my operations were, of course,
for several days completely at a stand. A grave council was held on
the subject from day to day, and there seemed great difficulty in
deciding what was to be done with me and the dangerous art which I was
practicing; and which had far exceeded their original expectations.
I finally got admittance to their sacred conclave, and assured them
that I was but a man like themselves,—that my art had no _medicine_ or
mystery about it, but could be learned by any of them if they would
practice it as long as I had—that my intentions towards them were of
the most friendly kind, and that in the country where I lived, brave
men never allowed their squaws to frighten them with their foolish
whims and stories. They all immediately arose, shook me by the hand,
and dressed themselves for their pictures. After this, there was no
further difficulty about sitting; all were ready to be painted,—the
squaws were silent, and my painting-room a continual resort for the
chiefs, and braves, and medicine-men; where they waited with impatience
for the completion of each one’s picture,—that they could decide as to
the likeness as it came from under the brush; that they could laugh,
and yell, and sing a new song, and smoke a fresh pipe to the health and
success of him who had just been safely delivered from the hands and
the mystic operation of the “_white medicine_.”
In each of these operations, as they successfully took place, I
observed that a pipe or two were well filled, and as soon as I
commenced painting, the chiefs and braves, who sat around the sides
of the lodge, commenced smoking for the success of the picture (and
probably as much or more so for the safe deliverance of the sitter from
harm while under the operation); and so they continued to pass the
pipe around until the portrait was completed.
In this way I progressed with my portraits, stopping occasionally
very suddenly as if something was wrong, and taking a tremendous puff
or two at the pipe, and streaming the smoke through my nostrils,
exhibiting in my looks and actions an evident relief; enabling me to
proceed with more facility and success,—by flattering and complimenting
each one on his good looks after I had got it done, and taking them
according to rank, or standing, making it a matter of honour with them,
which pleased them exceedingly, and gave me and my art the stamp of
respectability at once.
I was then taken by the arm by the chiefs, and led to their lodges,
where feasts were prepared for me in elegant style, _i. e._ in the
best manner which this country affords; and being led by the arm, and
welcomed to them by _gentlemen_ of high and exalted feelings, rendered
them in my estimation truly elegant.
I was waited upon in due form and ceremony by the _medicine-men_, who
received me upon the old adage, “Similis simili gaudet.” I was invited
to a feast, and they presented me a _she-shee-quoi_, or a doctor’s
rattle, and also a magical wand, or a doctor’s staff, strung with
claws of the grizzly bear, with hoofs of the antelope—with ermine—with
wild sage and bat’s wings—and perfumed withal with the _choice_ and
_savoury_ odour of the pole-cat—a dog was sacrificed and hung by
the legs over my wigwam, and I was therefore and thereby initiated
into (and countenanced in the practice of) the arcana of medicine
or mystery, and considered a Fellow of the Extraordinary Society of
_Conjurati_.
Since this signal success and good fortune in my operations, things
have gone on very pleasantly, and I have had a great deal of amusement.
Some altercation has taken place, however, amongst the chiefs and
braves, with regard to standing or rank, of which they are exceedingly
jealous; and they must sit (if at all) in regular order, according to
that rank; the trouble is all settled at last, however, and I have had
no want of subjects, though a great many have become again alarmed,
and are unwilling to sit, for fear, as some say, that they will die
prematurely if painted; and as others say, that if they are painted,
the picture will live after they are dead, and they cannot sleep quiet
in their graves.
I have had several most remarkable occurrences in my painting-room, of
this kind, which have made me some everlasting enemies here; though
the minds and feelings of the chiefs and medicine-men have not been
affected by them. There has been three or four instances where proud
and aspiring young men have been in my lodge, and after gazing at the
portraits of the head chief across the room (which sits looking them
in the eyes), have raised their hands before their faces and walked
around to the side of the lodge, on the right or left, from whence to
take a long and fair side-look at the chief, instead of staring him
full in the face (which is a most unpardonable offence in all Indian
tribes); and after having got in that position, and cast their eyes
again upon the portrait which was yet looking them full in the face,
have thrown their robes over their heads and bolted out of the wigwam,
filled equally with astonishment and indignation; averring, as they
always will in a sullen mood, that they “saw the eyes move,”—that as
they walked around the room “the eyes of the portrait followed them.”
With these unfortunate gentlemen, repeated efforts have been made by
the Traders, and also by the chiefs and doctors, who understand the
illusion, to convince them of their error, by explaining the mystery;
but they will not hear to any explanation whatever; saying, that “what
they see with their eyes is always evidence enough for them;” that they
always “believe their own eyes sooner than a hundred tongues,” and all
efforts to get them a second time to my room, or into my company in any
place, have proved entirely unsuccessful.
I had trouble brewing also the other day from another source; one of
the “_medicines_” commenced howling and haranguing around my domicil,
amongst the throng that was outside, proclaiming that all who were
inside and being painted were fools and would soon die; and very
materially affecting thereby my popularity. I however sent for him
and called him in the next morning, when I was alone, having only the
interpreter with me; telling him that I had had my eye upon him for
several days, and had been so well pleased with his looks, that I had
taken great pains to find out his history, which had been explained by
all as one of a most extraordinary kind, and his character and standing
in his tribe as worthy of my particular notice; and that I had several
days since resolved that as soon as I had practiced my hand long enough
upon the others, to get the stiffness out of it (after paddling my
canoe so far as I had) and make it to work easily and successfully,
I would begin on his portrait, which I was then prepared to commence
on that day, and that I felt as if I could do him justice. He shook
me by the hand, giving me the “Doctor’s grip,” and beckoned me to sit
down, which I did, and we smoked a pipe together. After this was over,
he told me, that “he had no inimical feelings towards me, although he
had been telling the chiefs that they were all fools, and all would
die who had their portraits painted—that although he had set the old
women and children all crying, and even made some of the young warriors
tremble, yet he had no unfriendly feelings towards me, nor any fear
or dread of my art.” “I know you are a good man (said he), I know you
will do no harm to any one, your medicine is great and you are a great
‘medicine-man.’ I would like to see myself very well—and so would all
of the chiefs; but they have all been many days in this medicine-house,
and they all know me well, and they have not asked me to come in and be
_made alive_ with paints—my friend, I am glad that my people have told
you who I am—my heart is glad—I will go to my wigwam and eat, and in
a little while I will come, and you may go to work;”—another pipe was
lit and smoked, and he got up and went off. I prepared my canvass and
palette, and whistled away the time until twelve o’clock, before he
made his appearance; having used the whole of the fore-part of the day
at his toilette, arranging his dress and ornamenting his body for his
picture.
[Illustration: 55]
At that hour then, bedaubed and streaked with paints of various
colours, with bear’s grease and charcoal, with medicine-pipes in his
hands and foxes tails attached to his heels, entered Mah-to-he-ha (the
old bear, +plate+ 55), with a train of his own profession, who seated
themselves around him; and also a number of boys, whom it was requested
should remain with him, and whom I supposed it possible might have been
pupils, whom he was instructing in the mysteries of _materia medica_
and _hoca poca_. He took his position in the middle of the room, waving
his eagle calumets in each hand, and singing his medicine-song which
he sings over his dying patient, looking me full in the face until I
completed his picture, which I painted at full length. His vanity has
been completely gratified in the operation; he lies for hours together,
day after day, in my room, in front of his picture, gazing intensely
upon it; lights my pipe for me while I am painting—shakes hands with
me a dozen times on each day, and talks of me, and enlarges upon my
_medicine_ virtues and my talents, wherever he goes; so that this new
difficulty is now removed, and instead of preaching against me, he
is one of my strongest and most enthusiastic friends and aids in the
country.
There is yet to be described another sort of personage, that is often
seen stalking about in all Indian communities, a kind of nondescript,
with whom I have been somewhat annoyed, and still more amused, since I
came to this village, of whom (or of _which_) I shall give some account
in my next epistle.
LETTER—No. 16.