58 THE GEOUGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



ship overlooked. ?) [His portrait and biography can be found on images 53 to 55, vol. 

 1, McKenny & Hall.] 



During the war of 1812, the British took possession of and abandoned Prairie Du 

 Chien. It was a small village occupied by French Canadians. After the British left 

 it the Winnebago Indians living adjacent to the post or town evinced a disposition 

 to quarrel and plunder the town. The inhabitants, defenseless and alarmed, sent a 

 messenger to Wd-be-shaw and claimed his protection. He was found with his baud 

 on the opposite side of the Mississippi Eiver and a few miles above Prairie du Chien. 

 He came down at once accompanied by one Indian and called a council for the next 

 day with the Wiunebagoes. At the council Wa-be-shaw arose, and looking at the 

 V/inuebagoes sitting silently around him, he pulled a hair from his head and held it 

 up before them: "Winnebagoes, do you see this hair? Look at it. You threaten to 

 massacre the white people at the Prairie. They are your friends and mine. You 

 wish to drink their blood. Is that your purpose ? Dare to lay a finger upon one of 

 them and I will blow you from the face of the earth, as I blow," suiting the action 

 to the word, "blow this hair with my breath where none can find It." The council 

 broke up at once, and the Wiunebagoes departed, leaving the settlers unmolested. 



They knew their danger — W^-be-shaw's words were meant. 



(Condensed from M'Kenney & Hall, vol. 1, pages 54, 55.) 



91. Shon-ga-ton-ga-chesh-en-day, the Horse- dung; chief of a band; a great con- 



jurer and magician. 1832. (No plate.) 



92. Tah-ton-ga-mo-iiee, the Walking Buffalo ; Red Wing's son. 1832. No plate. 



93. Muz-za, the Iron ; Saint Peters; a brave of distinction, and a very handsome fel- 



low. 1832. (No plate.) 



94. Te-o-kdn-ko, the Swift. 1832. (No plate.) 



An ill-visaged and ill-natured fellow, though reputed a desperate warrior. 



MR. CATLIN'S NOTES ON TOE SIOUX INDIANS. 



Mr. Catlin's works abound with invaluable descriptions of the Sioux 

 Indians at and about Fort Pierre. 



I am now in the heart of the country belonging to the numerous tribe of Sioux 

 or Dahcotas, and have Indian faces and Indian customs in abundance around me. 

 This tribe is one of the most numerous in North America, and also one of the most 

 vigorous and warlike tribes to be found, numbering some forty or fifty thousand, and 

 able undoubtedly to muster, if the tribe could be moved simultaneously, at least 

 eight or ten thousand warriors, well mounted and well armed. This tribe take vast 

 numbers of the wild horses on the plains towards the Rocky Mountains, and many- of 

 them have been supplied with guns; but the greater part of them hunt with their 

 bows and arrows and long lances, killing their game from their horses' backs while 

 at full speed. 



The name Sioux (pronounced see-oo), by which they are familiarly called, is one 

 that has been given to them by the French traders, the meaning of which I never 

 have learned ; their own name being, in their language, Dah-co-ta. The personal 

 appearance of these i)eople is very fine and prepossessing, their persons tall and 

 straight, and their movements elastic and .graceful. Their stature is considerablj'' 

 above that of the Mandans and Eiccarees, or Blackfeet; but about equal to that of 

 the Crows, Assinneboins, and Miuatarees, furnishing at least one-half of their war- 

 riors of 6 feet or more in height. 



The great family of Sioux, who occupy so vast a tract of country, extending from 

 the banks of the Mississippi Eiver to the base of the Rocky Mountains, are every- 

 where a migratory or roaming tribe, divided into forty-two bauds or families, each 

 having a chief, who all acknowledge a superior or head chief, to whom they all are 



