48 THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 



57.— MEDICINE DANCE OF THE SACS. (Painted May, 1846.) 

 The -Medicine Dance of the Sties is performed once every year, for the purpose of initia- 

 ting tlie mystery or medicine-men into this sacred custom of their tribe. 



58.— THE CHIEFTAro'S GRAVE. (Painted, Jan. 1851.) 



A form of burial practised by many tribes inhabiting the borders of Missouri and Iowa. 

 59.— FLIGHT OF A MOUNTAIN TRAPPER. (Painted 1851.) 



The flight of a Mountain Trapper from a band of Black-Foot Indians, constitutes an in- 

 cident in the life of (^apt. 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. 



This picture represents one of the many thrilling incidents in his life, characteristic of the 

 trapper and pioneer. Finding himself pursued by a large party, he hoped, by the aid of a 

 well-bred American horse, to escape a personal encounter; but the Indians taking advan- 

 tage of the broken country, soon overtook him, and were showering their arrows at him 

 while in full pursuit, using their horses as a shield. Joe, reserving his fire for a favorable 

 moment, selected the war-chief who was foremost, and, with well-directed aim, hit both 

 horse and rider, which caused them to abandon the pursuit. 



Joe was one of the early pioneer residents of Oregon, and one of its first representatives 

 under the provisional government. 



60.— THE TRAPPER'S ESCAPE. (Painted 1851.) 

 Joe is seen in the middle ground of the picture, waving his gun in exultation at his lucky 

 escape. 



61.— BLACK FOOT INDIANS IN AMBUSH, AWAITING THE APPROACH OF AN EMIGRANT PARTY. 



(Painted 1852.) 



A composition chai'acteristic of Indian warfare. 



62.— TECHONG-TA-SABA or BLACK DOG. (Painted 1843.) 



Principal Chief of the Osages. A man six feet six inches in height, and well proportioned, 

 weighing some two hundred and fifty pounds, and rather inclined to corpulency. He is 

 blind of one eye. He is celebrated more for his feats in war than as a counselor; his 

 opinions are, however, sought in all matters of importance appertaining to the welfare of 

 his people. The name Black Dog was given to him from a circumstance which happened 

 when on a war expe<lition against the Comanches. He, with his partj', were about to sur- 

 prise their camp on a very dark night, when a black dog, by his continued barking, kept 

 them at bay. After several inelFectual attempts, being repelled by the dog, Techong-ta-saba 

 became exasperated, and fired an arrow at random, hitting him in the head and causing in- 

 stant death. By this name he is familiarly known to the officers of the army and white 

 traders in that section of country 



6,3.— SHU-ME-CUSS, or WOLF. (Painted 1843.) 

 A nephew of Black Dog, and a warrior of distinction among his people. 



64— CROW-SUN-TAU, OK BIG SOLDIER. (Painted 184-3.) 

 An Osage Chief and Brave; is about seventy years of age, vigorous and active. He 

 together with a number of his tribe, were taken to France some years since by an American 

 citizen for the purpose of giving exhibitions of their various dances. 



65.— NE-QUA-BA-NAH. (Painted 1843.) 

 An Osage Warrior. 



66.— CHA-PAH-CAH-HA, or EAGLE FEATHER. (Painted 1843.) 

 An Osage Warrior. His head-dress is composed of the skin from the head of a buffalo, 

 with the horns attached. 



