510 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



While encamped at Coteau des Prairies Mr. Catlin and companiona 

 related many stories of adventure and wild life. One of Wi- Jun- Jon is 

 given with Nos. 179, 474 herein ; also, one of the "Dog" is of interest. 



MR. CATLIN AT LA FROMBOISE'S TRADING POST EN ROUTE TO CO- 

 TEAU DES PRAIRIES. THE STORY OF THE DOG. 



After his encounter with the Sioux — who attempted to prevent his 

 going to the pipe-stone quarry — as given with Nos. 336 and 337 herein, 

 Mr. Catlin and his companion, continuing their journey, found an old 

 acquaintance in La Fromboise, the owner of a trading post. He accom- 

 panied Mr. Catlin to the pipe-stone quarry. 



Mr. Catlin writes : 



We proceeded on and over a beautiful prairie country of one hundred miles or more, 

 when our Indian guide brought us to the trading house of an old acquaintance of 

 mine, Monsieur La Fromboise, who lives very comfortably, and in the^employment of 

 the American Fur Company, near the base of the Coteau, -and forty or fifty miles from 

 the pipe-stone quarry. 



We rode up unexpectedly and at full gallop to his door, when he met us and ad- 

 dressed us as follows : 



"Ha, Monsieur, how do you do? Quoi-ha! est, ce vous. Monsieur Cataline — est-il 

 possible ? Oui, oui, vraiment le mfime, mon ami, Cataline, comment se va-t-il ? et 

 combien (pardon me, though, for I can speak English). How have you been since I 

 saw you last season, and how under Heaven have you wandered into this wild region 

 so far from civilization ? Dismount, dismount, gentlemen, and you are welcome to 

 the comforts, such as they are, of my little cabin." 



"Monsieur La Fromboise, allow me to introduce to your acquaintance my friend 

 and traveling companion, Mr. Wood, of England." 



"Monsieur Wood, I am happy to see you, and I hope you will make allowance for 

 the rudeness of my cabin, and the humble manner in which I shall entertain you." 



"I assure you, my dear sir, that no apology is necessary; for your house looks as 

 delightful as a palace to Mr. Catlin and myself, who have so long been tenants of the 

 open air." 



"Gentlemen, walk in; we are surrounded with red folks here, and you will be 

 looked upon by them with great surprise." 



" That's what we want to see exactly. Catlin, that's fine; oh, how lucky we are!" 



"Well, gentlemen, walk into the other room; you see I have two rooms to my house 

 (or rather cabin), but they are small and unhandy. Such as I have shall be at your 

 service heartily ; and I assure you, gentlemen, that this is the happiest moment of 

 my life. I cannot give you feather beds to sleep on ; but I have a plenty of new robes 

 and you, at all events. Monsieur Cataline, know by this time how to make a bed of 

 them. We can give you plenty of buffalo meat, buffalo tongues, wild geese, ducks, 

 prairie hens, venison, trout, young swan, beaver tails, pigeons, plums, grapes, young 

 bear, some green corn, squash, onions, watermelons, and pommes des terres, some 

 coffee and some tea." 



"My good friend, one-half or one-third of these things (which are all luxuries to 

 us) would render us happy. Put yourself to no trouble on our account, and we shall 

 be perfectly happy under your roof." 



"I am very sorry, gentlemen, that I cannot treat yon as I would be glad to do ; but 

 you must make up for these things if you are fond of sporting, for there are plenty 

 of buffaloes about. At a little distance the prairies are speckled with them, and our 

 prairies and lakes abound with myriads of prairie hens, ducks, geese, and swan. You 

 shall make me a long visit, gentlemen, and we will have sport in abundance. I as- 



