It will be seen by this, that I am again wending my way towards home.
Our neat little “dug out,” by the aid of our paddles, has at length
brought my travelling companion and myself in safety to this place,
where we found the river, the shores, and the plains contiguous, alive
and vivid with plumes, with spears, and war-clubs of the yelling red
men.
We had heard that the whole nation of Sacs and Foxes were to meet
Governor Dodge here in treaty at this time, and nerve was given
liberally to our paddles, which had brought us from Traverse de Sioux,
on the St. Peters river; and we reached here luckily in time to see the
parades and forms of a savage community, transferring the rights and
immunities of their natural soil, to the insatiable grasp of pale faced
voracity.
After having glutted our curiosity at the fountain of the Red Pipe, our
horses brought us to the base of the Côteau, and then over the extended
plain that lies between that and the Traverse de Sioux, on the St.
Peters with about five days’ travel.
In this distance we passed some of the loveliest prairie country in
the world, and I made a number of sketches—“_Laque du Cygne_, Swan
Lake,” (+plate+ 276), was a peculiar and lovely scene, extending for
many miles, and filled with innumerable small islands covered with a
profusion of rich forest trees. +Plate+ 277, exhibits the Indian mode
of taking muskrats, which dwell in immense numbers in these northern
prairies, and build their burrows in shoal water, of the stalks of
the wild rice. They are built up something of the size and form of
haycocks, having a dry chamber in the top, where the animal sleeps
above water, passing in and out through a hole beneath the water’s
surface. The skins of these animals are sought by the Traders, for
their fur, and they constitute the staple of all these regions, being
caught in immense numbers by the Indians, and vended to the Fur
Traders. The mode of taking them is seen in the drawing; the women,
children and dogs attend to the little encampments, while the men wade
to their houses or burrows, and one strikes on the backs of them, as
the other takes the inhabitants in a rapid manner with a spear, while
they are escaping from them.
+Plate+ 278, is a party of Sioux, in bark canoes (purchased of the
Chippeways), gathering the wild rice, which grows in immense fields
around the shores of the rivers and lakes of these northern regions,
and used by the Indians as an useful article of food. The mode of
gathering it is curious, and as seen in the drawing—one woman paddles
the canoe, whilst another, with a stick in each hand, bends the rice
over the canoe with one, and strikes it with the other, which shells it
into the canoe, which is constantly moving along until it is filled.
+Plate+ 279, is a representation of one of the many lovely prairie
scenes we passed on the banks of the St. Peters river, near the
Traverse de Sioux.
Whilst traversing this beautiful region of country, we passed the bands
of Sioux, who had made us so much trouble on our way to the Red Pipe,
but met with no further molestation.
At the Traverse de Sioux, our horses were left, and we committed our
bodies and little travelling conveniences to the narrow compass of
a modest canoe, that must most evidently have been dug out from the
_wrong side of the log_—that required _us_ and everything in it, to be
exactly in the bottom—and then, to look straight forward, and speak
from the _middle_ of our _mouths_, or it was “_t’other side up_” in an
instant. In this way embarked, with our paddles used as balance poles
and propellers (after drilling awhile in shoal water till we could “get
the hang of it”), we started off, upon the bosom of the St. Peters,
for the Fall of St. Anthony. * * * * * * Sans accident we arrived, at
ten o’clock at night of the second day—and sans steamer (which we were
in hopes to meet), we were obliged to trust to our little tremulous
craft to carry us through the windings of the mighty Mississippi and
Lake Pepin, to Prairie du Chien, a distance of 400 miles, which I had
travelled last summer in the same manner.
“Oh the drudgery and toil of paddling our little canoe from this to
Prairie du Chien, we never can do it, Catlin.”
“Ah well, never mind, my dear fellow—we _must_ ‘go it’—there is no
other way. But think of the pleasure of such a trip, ha? Our guns and
our fishing-tackle will we have in good order, and be masters of our
own boat—we can shove it into every nook and crevice; explore the
caves in the rocks; ascend ‘_Mount Strombolo_,’ and linger along the
pebbly shores of Lake Pepin, to our hearts’ content.” “Well, I am
perfectly agreed; that’s fine, by Jupiter, that’s what I shall relish
exactly; we will have our own fun, and a truce to the labour and time;
let’s haste and be off.” So we catered for our voyage, shook hands
with our friends, and were again balancing our skittish bark upon
the green waters of the Mississippi. We encamped (as I had done the
summer before), along its lonely banks, whose only music is the echoing
war-song that rises from the glimmering camp-fire of the retiring
savage, or the cries of the famishing wolf that sits and bitterly weeps
out in tremulous tones, his impatience for the crumbs that are to fall
to his lot.
[Illustration: 278]
[Illustration: 279]
Oh! but we enjoyed those moments, (did we not, Wood? I would ask you,
in any part of the world, where circumstances shall throw this in your
way) those nights of our voyage, which ended days of peril and fatigue;
when our larder was full, when our coffee was good, our mats spread,
and our musquito bars over us, which admitted the cool and freshness of
night, but screened the dew, and bade defiance to the buzzing thousands
of sharp-billed, winged torturers that were kicking and thumping
for admission. I speak now of _fair weather_, not of the nights of
lightning and of rain! We’ll pass them over. We had all kinds though,
and as we loitered ten days on our way, we examined and experimented
on many things for the benefit of mankind. We drew into our larder
(in addition to bass and wild fowls), clams, snails, frogs, and
rattlesnakes; the latter of which, when properly dressed and broiled,
we found to be the most delicious food of the land.
We were stranded upon the Eastern shore of Lake Pepin, where headwinds
held us three days; and, like solitary Malays or Zealand penguins, we
stalked along and about its pebbly shores till we were tired, before
we could, with security, lay our little trough upon its troubled
surface. When liberated from its wind-bound shores, we busily plied
our paddles, and nimbly sped our way, until we were landed at the
fort of “Mount Strombolo,” (as the soldiers call it), but properly
denominated, in French, _La Montaigne que tromps a l’eau_. We ascended
it without much trouble; and enjoyed from its top, one of the most
magnificent panoramic views that the Western world can furnish; and
I would recommend to the tourist who has time to stop for an hour or
two, to go to its summit, and enjoy with rapture, the splendour of
the scene that lies near and in distance about him. This mountain, or
rather pyramid, is an anomaly in the country, rising as it does, about
seven hundred feet from the water, and washed at its base, all around,
by the river; which divides and runs on each side of it. It is composed
chiefly of rock, and all its strata correspond exactly with those of
the projecting promontories on either side of the river. We at length
arrived safe at Prairie du Chien; which was also sans steamer. We were
moored again, thirty miles below, at the beautiful banks and bluffs of
Cassville; which, too, was _sans steamer_—we dipped our paddles again
———— ———— ———— and ...
We are now six hundred miles below the Fall of St. Anthony, where
steamers daily pass; and we feel, of course, at home. I spoke of
the _Treaty_. We were just in time, and beheld its conclusion. It
was signed yesterday; and this day, of course, is one of revel and
amusements—shows of war-parades and dances. The whole of the Sacs and
Foxes are gathered here, and their appearance is very thrilling, and
at the same time pleasing. These people have sold so much of their
land lately, that they have the luxuries of life to a considerable
degree, and may be considered rich; consequently they look elated and
happy, carrying themselves much above the humbled manner of most of the
semi-civilized tribes, whose heads are hanging and drooping in poverty
and despair.
In a former epistle, I mentioned the interview which I had with
Kee-o-kuk, and the leading men and women of his tribe, when I painted a
number of their portraits and amusements as follow:
_Kee-o-kuk_ (the running fox, +plate+ 280), is the present chief of
the tribe, a dignified and proud man, with a good share of talent,
and vanity enough to force into action all the wit and judgment he
possesses, in order to command the attention and respect of the world.
At the close of the “Black Hawk War” in 1833, which had been waged with
disastrous effects along the frontier, by a Sac chief of that name;
_Kee-o-kuk_ was acknowledged chief of the Sacs and Foxes by General
Scott, who held a Treaty with them at Rock Island. His appointment as
chief, was in consequence of the friendly position he had taken during
the war, holding two-thirds of the warriors neutral, which was no doubt
the cause of the sudden and successful termination of the war, and the
means of saving much bloodshed. Black Hawk and his two sons, as well
as his principal advisers and warriors, were brought into St. Louis in
chains, and _Kee-o-kuk_ appointed chief with the assent of the tribe.
In his portrait I have represented him in the costume, precisely, in
which he was dressed when he stood for it, with his shield on his
arm, and his staff (insignia of office) in his left hand. There is no
Indian chief on the frontier better known at this time, or more highly
appreciated for his eloquence, as a public speaker, than Kee-o-kuk; as
he has repeatedly visited Washington and others of our Atlantic towns,
and made his speeches before thousands, when he has been contending
for his people’s rights, in their stipulations with the United States
Government, for the sale of their lands.
As so much is known of this man, amongst the citizens of the United
States, there is scarcely need of my saying much more of him to them;
but for those who know less of him, I shall say more anon. +Plate+ 281,
is a portrait of the wife of _Kee-o-kuk_, and +plate+ 282, of his
favourite son, whom he intends to be his successor. These portraits
are both painted, also, in the costumes precisely in which they were
dressed. This woman was the favourite one, (I think) of seven, whom
he had living, (_apparently_ quite comfortably and peaceably,) in his
wigwam, where General Street and I visited him in his village on the
Des Moines river. And, although she was the oldest of the “lot,” she
seemed to be the favourite one on this occasion—the only one that could
be painted; on account, I believe, of her being the mother of his
favourite son. Her dress, which was of civilized stuffs, was fashioned
and ornamented by herself, and was truly a most splendid affair; the
upper part of it being almost literally covered with silver broaches.
The Sacs and Foxes, who were once two separate tribes, but with a
language very similar, have, at some period not very remote, united
into one, and are now an inseparable people, and go by the familiar
appellation of the amalgam name of “Sacs and Foxes.”
These people, as will be seen in their portraits, shave and ornament
their heads, like the Osages and Pawnees, of whom I have spoken
heretofore; and are amongst the number of tribes who have
relinquished their immense tracts of lands, and recently retired West
of the Mississippi river. Their numbers at present are not more than
five or six thousand, yet they are a warlike and powerful tribe.
[Illustration: 280]
[Illustration: 282]
[Illustration: 281]
[Illustration: 283 284]
[Illustration: 285 286]
_Muk-a-tah-mish-o-kah-kaik_ (the black hawk, +plate+ 283) is the man to
whom I have above alluded, as the leader of the “Black Hawk war,” who
was defeated by General Atkinson, and held a prisoner of war, and sent
through Washington and other Eastern cities, with a number of others,
to be gazed at.
This man, whose name has carried a sort of terror through the country
where it has been sounded, has been distinguished as a speaker or
councellor rather than as a warrior; and I believe it has been pretty
generally admitted, that “_Nah-pope_” and the “Prophet” were, in fact,
the instigators of the war; and either of them with much higher claims
for the name of warrior than Black Hawk ever had.
When I painted this chief, he was dressed in a plain suit of buckskin,
with strings of wampum in his ears and on his neck, and held in his
hand, his medicine-bag, which was the skin of a black hawk, from which
he had taken his name, and the tail of which made him a fan, which he
was almost constantly using.
+Plate+ 284, is the eldest son of Black Hawk, _Nah-se-us-kuk_ (the
whirling thunder), a very handsome young warrior, and one of the
finest-looking Indians I ever saw. There is a strong party in the tribe
that is anxious to put this young man up; and I think it more than
likely, that _Kee-o-kuk_ as chief may fall ere long by his hand, or by
some of the tribe, who are anxious to reinstate the family of Black
Hawk.
+Plate+ 285, _Wah-pe-kee-suck_ (the white cloud), called “the Prophet,”
is a very distinguished man, and one of the principal and leading men
of the Black Hawk party, and studying favour with the whites, as will
be seen by the manner in which he was allowing his hair to grow out.
+Plate+ 286, _Wee-sheet_ (the sturgeon’s head), this man held a spear
in his hand when he was being painted, with which he assured me he
killed four white men during the war; though I have some doubts of the
fact.
_Ah-mou-a_ (the whale, +plate+ 287, and his wife, +plate+ 288), are
also fair specimens of this tribe. Her name is Wa-quo-the-qua (the
buck’s wife, or female deer), and she was wrapped in a mackinaw
blanket, whilst he was curiously dressed, and held his war-club in his
hand.
_Pash-ee-pa-ho_ (the little stabbing chief, +plate+ 289), a very old
man, holding his shield, staff and pipe in his hands; has long been the
head civil chief of this tribe; but, as is generally the case in very
old age, he has resigned the office to those who are younger and better
qualified to do the duties of it.
Besides the above-mentioned personages, I painted also the following
portraits, which are now in my Collection.
_I-o-way_ (the Ioway), one of Black Hawk’s principal warriors; his
body curiously ornamented with his “war-paint;” _Pam-a-ho_ (the
swimmer), one of Black Hawk’s warriors; _No-kuk-qua_ (the bear’s fat);
_Pash-ee-pa-ho_ (the little stabbing chief, the younger), one of Black
Hawk’s braves; _Wah-pa-ko-las-kuk_ (the bear’s track); _Wa-saw-me-saw_
(the roaring thunder), youngest son of Black Hawk; painted while
prisoner of war.
+Plate+ 290, _Kee-o-kuk_, on horseback. After I had painted the
portrait of this vain man at full length, and which I have already
introduced, he had the vanity to say to me, that he made a fine
appearance on horseback, and that he wished me to paint him thus. So
I prepared my canvass in the door of the hospital which I occupied,
in the dragoon cantonment; and he flourished about for a considerable
part of the day in front of me, until the picture was completed. The
horse that he rode was the best animal on the frontier; a fine blooded
horse, for which he gave the price of 300 dollars, a thing that he was
quite able to, who had the distribution of 50,000 dollars annuities,
annually, amongst his people. He made a great display on this day, and
hundreds of the dragoons and officers were about him, and looking on
during the operation. His horse was beautifully caparisoned, and his
scalps were carried attached to the bridle-bits.[36]
[Illustration: 287]
[Illustration: 288]
[Illustration: 289]
[Illustration: 290]
[Illustration: 291]
[Illustration: 292]
The dances and other amusements amongst this tribe are exceedingly
spirited and pleasing; and I have made sketches of a number of them,
which I briefly introduce here, and leave them for further comments at
a future time, provided I ever get leisure and space to enable me to do
it.
The _slave-dance_ (+plate+ 291), is a picturesque scene, and the custom
in which it is founded a very curious one. This tribe has a society
which they call the “_slaves_,” composed of a number of the young men
of the best families in the tribe, who volunteer to be slaves for the
term of two years, and subject to perform any menial service that the
chief may order, no matter how humiliating or how degrading it may
be; by which, after serving their two years, they are exempt for the
rest of their lives, on war-parties or other excursions, or wherever
they may be—from all labour or degrading occupations, such as cooking,
making fires, &c. &c.
These young men elect one from their numbers to be their master, and
all agree to obey his command whatever it may be, and which is given to
him by one of the chiefs of the tribe. On a certain day or season of
the year, they have to themselves a great feast, and preparatory to it
the above-mentioned dance.
_Smoking horses_ (+plate+ 292), is another of the peculiar and very
curious customs of this tribe. When General Street and I, arrived at
Kee-o-kuks village, we were just in time to see this amusing scene, on
the prairie a little back of his village. The Foxes, who were making
up a war-party to go against the Sioux, and had not suitable horses
enough by twenty, had sent word to the Sacs, the day before (according
to an ancient custom), that they were coming on that day, at a certain
hour, to “smoke” that number of horses, and they must not fail to have
them ready. On that day, and at the hour, the twenty young men who were
beggars for horses, were on the spot, and seated themselves on the
ground in a circle, where they went to smoking. The villagers flocked
around them in a dense crowd, and soon after appeared on the prairie,
at half a mile distance, an equal number of young men of the Sac tribe,
who had agreed, each to give a horse, and who were then galloping them
about at full speed; and, gradually, as they went around in a circuit,
coming in nearer to the centre, until they were at last close around
the ring of young fellows seated on the ground. Whilst dashing about
thus, each one, with a heavy whip in his hand, as he came within reach
of the group on the ground, selected the one to whom he decided to
present his horse, and as he passed him, gave him the most tremendous
cut with his lash, over his naked shoulders; and as he darted around
again he plied the whip as before, and again and again, with a violent
“crack!” until the blood could be seen trickling down over his naked
shoulders, upon which he instantly dismounted, and placed the bridle
and whip in his hands, saying, “here, you are a beggar—I present you a
horse, but you will carry my mark on your back.” In this manner, they
were all in a little time “_whipped up_,” and each had a good horse
to ride home, and into battle. His necessity was such, that he could
afford to take the stripes and the scars as the price of the horse,
and the giver could afford to make the present for the satisfaction of
putting his mark upon the other, and of boasting of his liberality,
which he has always a right to do, when going into the dance, or on
other important occasions.
The _Begging Dance_ (+plate+ 293), is a frequent amusement, and one
that has been practiced with some considerable success at this time,
whilst there have been so many distinguished and liberal visitors here.
It is got up by a number of desperate and long-winded fellows, who will
dance and yell their visitors into liberality; or, if necessary, laugh
them into it, by their strange antics, singing a song of importunity,
and extending their hands for presents, which they allege are to
gladden the hearts of the poor, and ensure a blessing to the giver.
The Sacs and Foxes, like all other Indians, are fond of living along
the banks of rivers and streams; and like all others, are expert
swimmers and skilful canoemen.
Their canoes, like those of the Sioux and many other tribes, are dug
out from a log, and generally made extremely light; and they dart them
through the coves and along the shores of the rivers, with astonishing
quickness. I was often amused at their freaks in their canoes,
whilst travelling; and I was induced to make a sketch of one which I
frequently witnessed, that of sailing with the aid of their blankets,
which the men carry; and when the wind is fair, stand in the bow of the
canoe and hold by two corners, with the other two under the foot or
tied to the leg (+plate+ 294); while the women sit in the other end of
the canoe, and steer it with their paddles.
The _Discovery Dance_ (+plate+ 295), has been given here, amongst
various others, and pleased the bystanders very much; it was
exceedingly droll and picturesque, and acted out with a great deal of
pantomimic effect—without music, or any other noise than the patting
of their feet, which all came simultaneously on the ground, in perfect
time, whilst they were dancing forward two or four at a time, in a
skulking posture, overlooking the country, and professing to announce
the approach of animals or enemies which they have discovered, by
giving the signals back to the leader of the dance.
_Dance to the Berdashe_ (+plate+ 296), is a very funny and amusing
scene, which happens once a year or oftener, as they choose, when
a feast is given to the “_Berdashe_,” as he is called in French,
(or _I-coo-coo-a_, in their own language), who is a man dressed in
woman’s clothes, as he is known to be all his life, and
for extraordinary privileges which he is known to possess, he is
driven to the most servile and degrading duties, which he is not
allowed to escape; and he being the only one of the tribe submitting
to this disgraceful degradation, is looked upon as _medicine_ and
sacred, and a feast is given to him annually; and initiatory to it, a
dance by those few young men of the tribe who can, as in the sketch,
dance forward and publicly make their boast (without the denial of
the Berdashe), that Ahg-whi-ee-choos-cum-me hi-anh-dwax-cumme-ke
on-daig-nun-ehow ixt. Che-ne-a’hkt ah-pex-ian I-coo-coo-a wi-an-gurotst
whow-itcht-ne-axt-ar-rah, ne-axt-gun-he h’dow-k’s dow-on-daig-o-ewhicht
nun-go-was-see.
[Illustration: 293]
[Illustration: 294]
[Illustration: 295]
[Illustration: 296]
Such, and such only, are allowed to enter the dance and partake of
the feast, and as there are but a precious few in the tribe who have
legitimately gained this singular privilege, or willing to make a
public confession of it, it will be seen that the society consists of
quite a limited number of “odd fellows.”
This is one of the most unaccountable and disgusting customs, that I
have ever met in the Indian country, and so far as I have been able
to learn, belongs only to the Sioux and Sacs and Foxes—perhaps it is
practiced by other tribes, but I did not meet with it; and for further
account of it I am constrained to refer the reader to the country where
it is practiced, and where I should wish that it might be extinguished
before it be more fully recorded.
Dance to the _Medicine of the Brave_ (+plate+ 297). This is a custom
well worth recording, for the beautiful moral which is contained in it.
In this plate is represented a party of Sac warriors who have returned
victorious from battle, with scalps they have taken from their enemies,
but having lost one of their party, they appear and dance in front of
his wigwam, fifteen days in succession, about an hour on each day, when
the widow hangs his _medicine-bag_ on a green bush which she erects
before her door, under which she sits and cries, whilst the warriors
dance and brandish the scalps they have taken, and at the same time
recount the deeds of bravery of their deceased comrade in arms, whilst
they are throwing presents to the widow to heal her grief and afford
her the means of a living.
The Sacs and Foxes are already drawing an annuity of 27,000 dollars,
for thirty years to come, in cash; and by the present Treaty just
concluded, that amount will be enlarged to 37,000 dollars per annum.
This Treaty with the Sacs and Foxes, held at Rock Island, was for
the purchase of a tract of land of 256,000 acres, lying on the Ioway
river, West of the Mississippi, a reserve which was made in the tract
of land conveyed to the Government by Treaty after the Sac war, and
known as the “Black Hawk purchase.” The Treaty has been completed by
Governor Dodge, by stipulating on the part of Government to pay them
seventy-five cents per acre for the reserve, (amounting to 192,000
dollars), in the manner and form following:—
Thirty thousand dollars to be paid in specie in June next, at the
Treaty-ground; and ten thousand dollars annually, for ten years to
come, at the same place, and in the same manner; and the remaining
sixty-two thousand, in the payment of their debts, and some little
donations to widows and half-breed children. The American Fur Company
was their principal creditor, whose account for goods advanced
on credit, they admitted, to the amount of nearly fifty thousand
dollars. It was stipulated by an article in the Treaty that one half
of these demands should be paid in cash as soon as the Treaty should
be ratified—and that five thousand dollars should be appropriated
annually, for their liquidation, until they were paid off.
It was proposed by Kee-o-kuk in his speech (and it is a fact worthy of
being known, for such has been the proposition in every Indian Treaty
that I ever attended), that the first preparatory stipulation on the
part of Government, should be to pay the requisite sum of money to
satisfy all their creditors, who were then present, and whose accounts
were handed in, acknowledged and admitted.
The price paid for this tract of land is a liberal one, comparatively
speaking, for the usual price heretofore paid for Indian lands, has
been one and a half or three quarter cents, (instead of seventy-five
cents) per acre, for land which Government has since sold out for ten
shillings.
Even one dollar per acre would not have been too much to have paid
for this tract, for every acre of it can be sold in one year, for ten
shillings per acre, to actual settlers, so desirable and so fertile is
the tract of country purchased. These very people sold to Government
a great part of the rich states of Illinois and Missouri, at the low
rates above-mentioned; and this small tract being the last that they
can ever part with, without throwing themselves back upon their natural
enemies, it was no more than right that Government should deal with
them, as they have done, liberally.
As an evidence of the immediate value of that tract of land to
Government, and, as a striking instance of the overwhelming torrent of
emigration, to the “Far West,” I will relate the following occurrence
which took place at the close of the Treaty:—After the Treaty was
signed and witnessed, Governor Dodge addressed a few very judicious
and admonitory sentences to the chiefs and braves, which he finished
by requesting them to move their families, and all their property from
this tract, within one month, which time he would allow them, to make
room for the whites.
Considerable excitement, was created among the chiefs and braves, by
this suggestion, and a hearty laugh ensued, the cause of which was soon
after explained by one of them in the following manner:—
“My father, we have to laugh—we require no time to move—we have all
left the lands already, and sold our wigwams to Chemokemons (white
men)—some for one hundred, and some for two hundred dollars, before
we came to this Treaty. There are already four hundred Chemokemons on
the land, and several hundred more on their way moving in; and three
days before we came away, one Chemokemon sold his wigwam to another
Chemokemon for two thousand dollars, to build a great town.”
[Illustration: 297]
In this wise is this fair land filling up, one hundred miles or more
West of the Mississippi—not with barbarians, but with people from the
East, enlightened and intelligent—with industry and perseverance that
will soon reap from the soil all the luxuries, and add to the surface,
all the taste and comforts of Eastern refinement.
The Treaty itself, in all its forms, was a scene of interest, and
_Kee-o-kuk_ was the principal speaker on the occasion, being recognized
as the head chief of the tribe. He is a very subtle and dignified
man, and well fitted to wield the destinies of his nation. The poor
dethroned monarch, old Black Hawk, was present, and looked an object of
pity. With an old frock coat and brown hat on, and a cane in his hand,
he stood the whole time outside of the group, and in dumb and dismal
silence, with his sons by the side of him, and also his _quondam_,
aide-de-camp, Nah-pope, and the prophet. They were not allowed to
speak, nor even to sign the Treaty. _Nah-pope_ rose, however, and
commenced a very earnest speech on the subject of _temperance_! but
Governor Dodge ordered him to sit down, (as being out of order),
which probably saved him from a much more _peremptory command_ from
_Kee-o-kuk_, who was rising at that moment, with looks on his face
that the Devil himself might have shrunk from. This Letter I must end
here, observing, before I say adieu, that I have been catering for the
public during this summer at a _difficult_ (and almost _cruel_) rate;
and if, in my over-exertions to grasp at material for their future
entertainment, the cold hand of winter should be prematurely laid upon
me and my works in this Northern region, the world, I am sure, will be
disposed to pity, rather than censure me for my delay.
[36] About two years after the above was written, and the portrait
painted, and whilst I was giving Lectures on the Customs of the
Indians, in the Stuyvesant Institute in New York, Kee-o-kuk and
his wife and son, with twenty more of the chiefs and warriors
of his tribe, visited the City of New York on their way to
Washington City, and were present one evening at my Lecture,
amidst an audience of 1500 persons. During the Lecture, I placed a
succession of portraits on my easel before the audience, and they
were successively recognized by the Indians as they were shewn;
and at last I placed this portrait of Kee-o-kuk before them, when
they all sprung up and hailed it with a piercing yell. After the
noise had subsided, Kee-o-kuk arose, and addressed the audience in
these words:—“My friends, I hope you will pardon my men for making
so much noise, as they were very much excited by seeing me on my
favourite war-horse, which they all recognized in a moment.”
I had the satisfaction then of saying to the audience, that this
was very gratifying to me, inasmuch as many persons had questioned
the correctness of the picture of the horse; and some had said in
my Exhibition Room, “that it was an imposition—that no Indian on
the frontier rode so good a horse.” This was explained to Kee-o-kuk
by the interpreter, when he arose again quite indignant at the
thought that any one should doubt its correctness, and assured the
audience, “that his men, a number of whom never had heard that the
picture was painted, knew the horse the moment it was presented;
and further, he wished to know why Kee-o-kuk could not ride as good
a horse as any white man?” He here received a round of applause,
and the interpreter, Mr. Le Clair, rose and stated to the audience,
that he recognized the horse the moment it was shewn, and that it
was a faithful portrait of the horse that he sold to Kee-o-kuk for
300 dollars, and that it was the finest horse on the frontier,
belonging either to red or white man.
In a few minutes afterwards I was exhibiting several of my
paintings of buffalo-hunts, and describing the modes of slaying
them with bows and arrows, when I made the assertion which I had
often been in the habit of making, that there were many instances
where the arrow was thrown entirely through the buffalo’s body; and
that I had several times witnessed this astonishing feat. I saw
evidently by the motions of my audience, that many doubted the
correctness of my assertion; and I appealed to _Kee-o-kuk_, who
rose up when the thing was explained to him, and said, that it had
repeatedly happened amongst his tribe; and he believed that one
of his young men by his side had done it. The young man instantly
stepped up on the bench, and took a bow from under his robe, with
which he told the audience he had driven his arrow quite through a
buffalo’s body. And, there being forty of the Sioux from the Upper
Missouri also present, the same question was put to them, when the
chief arose, and addressing himself to the audience, said that it
was a thing very often done by the hunters in his tribe.
LETTER—No. 57.