THE GEOKGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 335 



(be bauk and ou to lier deck, with a spear in one hand and the calumet, oi- pipe of 

 peace, in the other. The moinerit they stepped on board tliey met (to their great sur- 

 lirise and joy) their old friend. Major Sanford, their agent, which circumstance put 

 an instant end to all their fears. The villagers were soon apprised of the fact, and the 

 whole race of the beautiful and friendly Maudans was paraded on the bank of the 

 river, in front of the steamer. 



The rain maker, whose apprehensions of a j)ublic calamity brought upon the nation 

 by his extraordinary medicine, had, for the better security of his person from appre- 

 hended vengeance, secreted himself in some secure place, and was the last to come 

 forward, and the last to be convinced that this visitation was a friendly one from the 

 white people ; and that his medicine had not in the least been instrumental in bring- 

 ing it about. This information, though received by him with much caution and sus- 

 picion, at length gave him great relief, and quieted his mind as to his danger. Yet 

 still in his breast there was a rankling thorn, though he escaped the dreaded ven- 

 geance which he had a few moments before apprehended as at hand ; as he had the 

 mortilication and disgrace of having failed in his mysterious operations. He set up, 

 however (during the day, in his conversation about the strange arrival), his medi- 

 cines, as the cause of its approach; asserting everywhere, and to everybody, that he 

 knew of its coming, and that ho had by his magic brought the occurrence about. 

 This i)lea, however, did not get him much audience; and, in fact, everything else 

 was pretty much swallowed up in the guttural talk, and bustle, and gossip about the 

 mysteries of the "thunder-boat" ; and so passed the day, until just at the approach 

 of evening, when the White Buffalo's Hair (more watchful of such matters on this 

 occasion than most others) observed that a black cloud had been jutting up in tho 

 liorizon, and was almost directly over the village. In an instant his shield was on 

 his arm, and his bow in bis hand, and he again upon the lodge. Stiffened and braced 

 to the last sinew, he stood, with his face and shield presented to the cJoud, and his 

 bow drawn. He drew the eyes of the whole village upon him as ho vaunted forth his 

 sniierhuman powers, and at the same time commanding the cloud t o come nearer, that 

 lie might draw down its co-ntents upon the heads and the cornfields of the Mandans. 

 In this wise he stood, waving his shield over his head, stamping his foot and frowning 

 as he drew his bow and threatened the heavens, commanding it to rain — his bow was 

 bent, and the arrow drawn to its head, was sent to the cloud, and ho exclaimed, "My 

 friends, it is done ! Wak-a-dah-he-hee's arrow has entered that black cloud, and the 

 Maudans will be wet with the water of the skies ! His j^redictions were true; in a 

 few moments the cloud was over the village, and the rain fell in torrents. He stood 

 for some time wielding his weapons and presenting his shield to the sky; v/hilo he 

 boasted of his power and the efficacy of his medicine to those wlio had been about him, 

 •but were now driven to the shelter of their wigwams. He at length fiuished his 

 vaunts and his threats, and descended from his high place (in which he had been 

 perfectly drenched), prej^ared to receive the honors and the homage that were due to 

 (uio so jjotent in his mysteries, and to receive the style and title of mtdicine-man. 

 This is one of a hundred different modes in which a man in Indian countries acquires 

 the honorable appellation. 



Tliis man had made it rain, and of course was to receive more than usual honor, as 

 lie liud done much more than ordinary men could do. All eyes were upon him, and 

 all were ready to admit that ho was skilled in the magic art ; and must be so nearly 

 allied to the Great or Evil Spirit, that he must needs bo a man of great and powerful 

 intluenoe in the nation, and well entitled to the style of Hoctor or medicine-man. 



Readers, there are two facts relative to these strange transactions, which are in- 

 fallibly true, and should needs be made known. The first is, that when the Mandans 

 undertake to makeitrain, they never fail to succeed, for their ceremonies never stop until 

 rain begins to fall. The second is equally true, and is this — that he who has once 

 made it rain never attempts it again ; his medicine is undoubted ; and on future oc- 

 vasious of the kind ho stands aloof who has once done it in presence of the whole 



