40 BLACK-FOOT 



then placed in a kneeling posture on one end of the cloth to i . .give 

 the medicine. The medicine-men commence their dance on the op- 

 posite end of the cloth — slowly at first — but as they approach their 

 subjects they become more energetic, and when within a few feet of 

 them, they shoot them with the magical bean — they fall senseless 

 and lifeless. The medicine-men rub them with their medicine-bags, 

 breathe in their faces, and chafe their limbs until they are partially 

 restored. They are then denuded of their clothes, and rapped in the 

 cloth upon which they knelt, in which they remain until the bean is 

 vomited up, which is exhibited to the chiefs. They are then dressed 

 in a new suit, and the same scene again performed upon other sub- 

 jects; after which, a general dance comes off, in which all take a 

 part. Then follows the feast. The guests are invited by the pre- 

 sentation of a short stick, marked with devices. Being a medicine- 

 man, I had the honour of participating in this part of the ceremony. 



5S. 



THE CHIEFTAIN'S GRAVE. 



(Painted Jan. 1851.) 



A form of burial practised by many tribes inhabiting the borders 

 of Missouri and Iowa. 



BLACK-FOOT. 



59. 



FLIGHT OF A MOUNTAIN TRAPPER. 



(Painted 1851.) 



The flight of a Mountain Trapper from a band of Black-Foot 

 Indians, constitutes an incident in the life of Capt. Joe Meek, the 

 present marshal of Oregon Territory. He was a native of Ohio, and 

 early in life enlisted in the service of the American Fur Company as 

 a trapper; in which service he spent eighteen years in the Rocky 

 Mountains. 



