THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 583 



gratlually commencetl tapping on his drum and singing in a low tone. In a few mo- 

 ments the house jarred with the leap of the war-chief, who was upon his feet, and after 

 him all the party, in the din of the war dance. 



This dance finished, they were again seated on the floor, when the old chief, seventy- 

 five years of age, having lighted his pipe and passed it around, arose and made the 

 following address to Her Majesty : * 



" Great mother, I have been very sorrowful since I left my home, hut the Great 

 Spirit has brought ns all safe over the great waters, and my heart will now be glad, 

 that we can see your face. AVe are now happy. 



" These are all the words I have to say. My words are few, for I am not very well 

 to-day. The other chief will tell you what I intended to say." 



The war-chief then rose, and in a very energetic manner made the following speech, 

 which was also literally interpreted to Her Majesty : 



" Great mother, the Great Spirit has been kind to us, your children, in protecting 

 us on our long journey here. And we are now hapj^y that we are allowed to see your 

 face. It makes our heart glad to see the faces of so many Saganoshes (English) in 

 Ihis country, and all wearing such i^leasant looks. We think the people here must be 

 very happy. 



"Mother, we have been often told that there was a great fire in this country; that 

 its light shone across the great water ; and we see now where this great light arises. 

 We believe that it shines from this great wigwam to all the world. 



"Mother, we have seen many strange things since we came to this country. We 

 see that your wigwams are large, and the light that is in them is bright. Our wig- 

 wams are small, and our light is not strong. We are not rich, but yet we have 

 plenty of food to eat. 



"Mother, myself and my friends here are your friends — your children. We have 

 used our weapons against your enemies. And for many years we have received liberal 

 presents from this country, which have made us quite happy and comfortable in our 

 Avigwams. 



"Mother, the chief who has just spoken and myself have fought and bled by the 

 side of the greatest warrior who ever lived — Tecumseh. 



"Mother, our hearts are glad at what we have this day seen ; that we have been 

 allowed to see your face. And when we get home our words will be listened to in the 

 councils of our nation. 



" This is all I have to say." 



After his speech, the war-chief resumed his seat upon the floor, and as Her Majesty 

 could not be supposed to reply to his speech, she called upon the prince, who thanked 

 them for the amusement they had afi'orded Her Majesty, who felt a deep interest in 

 their welfare, and thankful to the old chief for the noble and religious sentiments ex- 

 pressed in his remarks. 



After this the Indians rose and gave their favorite, the pipe dance, which seemed to 

 afford much amusement to the royal party. The Queen and the prince then graciously 

 bowed and took leave, thanking them, through the interpreter, for the amusement 

 they had afforded them. The Indians at the same moment shouldered their robes and 

 retired, sounding their war-whoop to the amusement of the servants of the household, 

 who had assembled to the amount of some hundreds in the galleries of the hall. 



They were now in the waiting-room again, where, to their surprise (and no little 

 satisfaction), they found that the table they had seen so splendidly arranged was in- 

 teilded for their own entertainment, and was now ready for the "set-to." Mr. Mur- 



* The poor olU chief met with a sudden embarrassment at this moment that ho had not thought of, 

 and was not prepared consequently to know how to pioceed. Ho had, according to the custom of liis 

 (ountry, prepared and brought with him a beautiful calumet or pipe of peace to present, and on rising 

 to make his speech (the moment when it is customary to present it) it for the first time occurred to 

 him that lie was about to present it to a woman, the impropriety of which was evident to him. Ho 

 thought of the prince, but as the pipe of peace can only bo given to the highest in power, he had 

 another misgiving ; and, unlike to orators in the Indian countries, continued to holil it in his hand while 

 he was speaking, and brought it away with him. 



