THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 271 



H. M. Brackenridge, in Lis journal of a voyage up the River Missouri, 

 iu 1811, writes (pages 92 and 93) of Floyd's grave : 



About a mile below our encampment we passed Floyd's Bluff — and river — fourteen 

 miles from tlie Mabas (Omaha) village. Sergeant Floyd was of tbe party of Lewis 

 and Clarke. Tbe place of bis interment is marked by a wooden cross, wbicb may be 

 seen by navigators at a considerable distance. Tbe grave occupies a beautiful rising 

 gronndj now covered with grass and wild flowers. Tbe pretty little river, wbicb 

 bears bis name, is neatly fringed witb willow and shrubbery. * * * It is several 

 years since be was buried here. No one has disturbed the cross wbicb marks tbe 

 grave. Even the Indians wbo pass A'enerate tbe j)lace, and often leave a present or 

 offering near it. 



Mr. Catlin saw it twenty-two years after Mr. Brackenridge. 



377. View on Upper Misfsouri; Sioux encamped, dressing buffalo meat and 



robes. Painted in 1832. (No plate.) 



378. View on Upper Missouri; "Tbe Tower," eleven hundred miles above Saint 



Louis. Painted in 1832. (No plate.) 



A name given by tbe travelers through the country to a high and remarkable claj' 

 bluff, rising to tbe height of some hundreds of feet from the water, and having, in 

 distance, the castellated appearance of a fortification. — G. C. 



379. Vie'w on Upper Missouri; distant view of the Mandan village, eighteen 



hundred miles above Saint Louis. Painted in 1832. 

 (Plate No. 45, vol. 1, Catliu's Eight Years.) 



380. View on Upper Missouri ; picturesque clay bluff, seventeen hundred miles 



above Saint Louis. 



MANDAN VILLAGE, TIPPER MISSOURI. 



I said that I was here in the midst of a strange people,, wbicb is literally true; and 

 I find myself surrounded by subjects and scenes worthy the pens of Irving or Cooper, 

 of the i)eacils of Raphael or Hogarth ; rich in legends and romances, which would 

 require no aid of the imagination for a book or a picture. 



Tbe Mandans (or See-pohs-kah-nu-mah-kaJi-Jcee, "people of the pheasants," as they 

 call themselves) are perhaps one of tbe most ancient tribes of Indians in our coun- 

 try. Their origin, like that of .all the other tribes, is, from necessity, involved in 

 mystery and obscurity. Their traditions and peculiarities I shall casually recite in 

 this or future epistles, which, when understood, will at once, I think, denominate 

 them a peculiar and distinct race. They taks great pride in relating their traditions, 

 ■with regard to their origin, contending that they were the first people created on 

 earth. Their existence in these regions ha,s not been from a very ancient period; 

 and, from wliat I could learn of their traditions, they have, at a former period, been 

 a very numerous and j)owerful nation ; but by tbe continual wars which have existed 

 between them and their neighbors they have been reduced to their present numbers. 



This tribe is at present located on the west bank of the Missouri, about eighteen 

 hundred miles above Saint Louis, and two hundred below the mouth of Yellowstone 

 River. They have two villages only, which are about two Tiiiles distant from each 

 other, and number in all (as near as I can learn) about two thousand souls. Their 

 present villages are beautifully located, and judiciously also for defense against the 

 assaults of their enemies. The site of tbe lower (or principal) town in particular 

 (Plate 4.5) is one of tbe most beautiful and pleasing that can be seen in the world, 

 and even more beautiful than imagination could ever create. In the very midst of 

 an extensive valley (embraced within a thousand graceful swells and parapets or 



