THE GEOEGE CATLTN INDIAN GALLERY.' 251 



four years since, that those tribes have visited this place freely in former times ; and 

 that it has once been held and owned in common, as neutral ground, amongst the dif- 

 ferent tribes who met here to renew their pipes, under some superstition, which 

 staid the tomahawk of uatnial foes, always raised in deadly hate and vengeance in 

 other places. It will be seen also that within a few years past (and that, probably, 

 by the instigation of the whites, who have told them that by keeping oft' other tribes, 

 and manufacturing the pipes themselves, and trading them to adjoining nations, they 

 can acquire much influence and wealth) the Sioux have hiid entire claim to this 

 quarry; and as it is in the center of their country, and they are more i)owerful than 

 any other tribes, they are able successfully to i)revent any access to it. 



That this place should have been visited for ceiituries past by all the neighboring 

 tribes, who have hidden the war-club as they approached it, and staid the cruel- 

 ties of the scalping-knife, under the fear of the vengeance of the Great Spirit, who 

 overlooks it, will not seem strange or unnatural when their religion or superstitions 

 are known. 



That such has been the custom there is not a shadow of doubt, and that even so 

 recently as to have been witnessed by hundreds and thousands of Indians of different 

 tribes, now living, and from many of whom I have personally drawn the information, 

 some of which will be set forth in the following traditions ; and as an additional (and 

 still more conclusive) evidence of the above position, here are to be seen (and will 

 continue to be seen for ages to come) the totems and arms of the different tribes, who 

 have visited this place for ages past, deeply engraved on the quartz rocks where they 

 are to be recognized in a moment (and not to be denied) by the passing traveler, who 

 has been among these tribes, and acquired even but a partial knowledge of them and 

 their respective modes.* 



The thousands of inscriptions and paintings on the rocks at this place, as well as 

 the ancient diggings for the pipestone, will afford amusement for the world who will 

 visit it, without furnishing the least data, I should think, of the time at which these 

 excavations commenced, or of the period at which the Sioux assumed the exclusive 

 right to it. , 



Among the many traditions which I have drawn personally from the different tribes, 

 and which go to support the opinion above advanced, is the following, which was 

 related to me by a distinguished Knisteneaux, on the Upper Missouri, four years since, 

 on occasion of presenting to me a handsome red stone pipe. After telling me that he 

 had been to this place, and after describing it in all its features, he proceeded to say : 



"That in the time of a great freshet, which took place many centuries ago, and 

 destroyed all the nations of the earth, all the tribes of the red men assembled on the 

 Coteau des Prairies to get out of the way of the waters. After they had all gathered 

 here from all parts, the water continued to rise, until at length it covered them all in 

 a mass, and their flesh was converted into red pipestone. Therefore it has always 

 been considered neutral ground — it belonged to all tribes alike, and all were allowed 

 to get it and smoke it together. 



" While they were all drowning in a mass, a young woman, K-ioap-iali-w (a virgin), 

 caught hold of the foot of a very large bird that was flying over, and was carried to 

 the top of a high cliif, not far oft", that was above the water. Here she had twins, 

 and their father was the war-eagle and her children have since peopled the earth. 



"The pipestone, which is the flesh of their ancestors, is smoked by them as the 

 symbol of peace, and the eagle's quill decorates the head of the brave." 



* I am aware that this interestinj: fact may bo opposed by subsequent travelers, who will find no- 

 body but the Sioux upon this ground, who now claim exclusive liglit to it; and for the satisfaction of 

 those who doubt, I refer them to Lewis and Clark's tour, thirty-thrco years since, before the influi'nco 

 of tradors had deranged the sj^stem and truth of things in these regions. I liavo often conversed 

 with General Clarke, of Saint Louis, on tliis subject, and ho told nio explicitly, and authorized mo to 

 say it to the world, that every tribe on the Missouri told hiui they b;id been to this place, and that the 

 Gx'Cat Spirit kept the peace amongst his red chiklreu on that grouud, where thoy had smoked witJi 

 their enemies.— G. C. 



