580 THE GEOEGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLEiiY. 



A MINISTER DESIKES TO KNOW IF THE INDIANS HAVE ANY RELIGION. HE VISITS 



THEM. 



I bad about tbis time several comaiuuications from tbe Eev. Mr. S , wbo was 



desirous, if possible, to have an interview witb the Indians for the purpose of learning 

 from them what notions they had of religion, if any ; and to endeavor to open their 

 minds to a knowledge of the Christian religion, which it was the wish of himself and 

 many others of his friends to teach to them for their eternal welfare. I at once 

 wrote to those reverend gentlemen and assured them that their kind endeavors would 

 be aided in every possible way by Mr. Rankin and myself; and I appointed an hour 

 at once, when they could converse witb the Indians on the subject. Their visit was 

 made at the hour appointed, and the conversation was held in my presence. The 

 reverend gentlemen most kindly and humanely greeted the Indians on their safe ar- 

 rival in this country, where they were glad to meet tbem as brotbers. They called 

 upon them, not in any way to interfere with their amusements or objects for which 

 they had come to England, but to wish them all success, and at the same time to 

 learn from them whether las poor children of the forests they had been kept in the 

 dark, and out of the light of the true Christian religion, which it was their desire to 

 make known to their minds. The old chief had lit his pipe in the mean time, and hav- 

 ing taken a few moments to smoke it out, after the reverend gentleman had stopped, 

 said (without rising up to speak) that he was much jjleased to see them, and shake 

 hands with them, for he knew their views were good and friendly. He said that they 

 had heard something about the white man's religion in the wilderness where he lived, 

 but they had thought it too difficult for them to understand. He said he was much 

 obliged to them for offering to explain it at tbis time, but that they would take a 

 little time to think of it first ; and as they had not yet seen the Queen, they thought 

 it best to do no more about it at present. 



A GREAT MEDICINE FEAST. 



Poor fellows, they were daily asking for reports from the palace, becoming impa- 

 tient for the permission to see Her Majesty. They had waited so long that they were 

 beginning to think that their application had failed, and they were becoming dis- 

 pirited and desponding. 



I said to them one morning, "Now, my good fellows, don't despair — j^ou have not 

 tried what you can do yourselves yet ; in your own country, if you wish it to rain, you 

 have raiM-mafcers who can make it rain ; if you wish it to stop raining, you have 7-ain- 

 stoppers who cook up a grand medicine feast and cause it to stop raining. If buffaloes 

 are scarce, your medicine-men can make them them come ; why not ' put on the Big 

 Kettle,' and see what you can do in the present dilemma? You have your medicine- 

 man with you, and your medicine-drum aud your Shi-slte-quoi (mystery rattle) ; you are 

 all prepared; go to work— you will certainly do no harm, and I fully believe you will 

 bring it about." 



As I was leaving the room their interpreter overtook me, and said that the medicine- 

 man wanted the money to buy five fat ducks — that they had resolved on having a 

 medicine feast that afternoon, and that they would expect me to be of the party to 

 partake of it. 



I came in at the hour appointed, and found them all with their faces painted black 

 on one side and red on the other (their mode of ornamenting when they suppLcate 

 the Great or other Spirit for any gift or favor), aud prepared to take their seats at 

 the feast, which was then smoking, on the floor in the adjoiningroom. . Buffalo robes 

 were spread upon tbe floor, on which we were seated, when the following dialogue took 

 j)laco between their kind (and now no longer terrified) landlady aud the interpreter- 

 Cadotte: "Why," said she (as she was completing the last arrangement for our feast 

 upon tbe floor), " you ha've left no room for the women, poor things." ''Women!" 

 gaid CadottCj " why do jon suppose that women can eac at a> medicine feast?" "Why 



