588 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLEKY. 



breaths of smoke to Ms lungs, and pouring it out through his nostrils, at length 

 hegan : 



'' My friends, I can't speak — I never speak. (Great applause, and ho smoked 

 again.) 



"My friends, my heart and my tongue were never made to live together. (Roar 

 of applause, and 'How, how, how!') Our chief is old, and his words few ; he has 

 told you that the Great Spirit has been kind to us, and that we have seen the face of 

 our great mother the Queen, AVe have all thanked the Great Spirit for this, and we 

 all wish to thank our great mother now for the presents she has sent us. She is not 

 here, and we can't thank her ; but we see these presents pass through your hands and 

 we wish to thank yon. ('How, how, how !' and ' Hear.') 



"Brothers, I have no more to say, but I shall be glad in a little time to offer you 

 my hand. (' How, how, how!' and applause.)" 



The audience were now prepared, and the Indians also, for the j;t/)e dance, one of the 

 most spirited and picturesque of their dances, and which they gave with great effect. 

 It was then announced that the Indians would seat themselves on the front of the 

 platform, where all the visitors who desired it might have an opportunity to advance 

 and shake hands with them. This afforded the visitors a gratifying opportunity of 

 getting nearer to them, and disposed many to he liberal to them, who gave them 

 money and trinkets to a considerable amount. » * * 



Mr. Rankin and myself, as usual, went into the Indians' apartments to smoke a 

 pipe with them after the fatigues of the evening were over, and we found the pooj 

 fellows in an unusually pleasant humor, counting over and showing the money and 

 trinkets which they had received from the visitors, and also the money sent by the 

 Queen, which, to be divided more exactly 2>er capita (their mode of dividing presents), 

 they had got changed into silver. 



THE OJIBBBWAYS VISITED BY TWO CLERGYMEN IN LONDON. 



Several times during the period the Ojibbeways were on exhibition 

 at Catlin's Indian Gallery in London Mr. Catlin was visited by two 

 clergymen who desired to converse with the Indians. An interview 

 was finally arranged, after some trouble, and is detailed by Mr. Catlin 

 as follows : 



The nest morning at 10 o'clock (the hour appointed) the Rev. Mr. S and friend 



called, and were conducted by me to the Indians' apartments. They were met with 

 cordiality by the Indians and by Mr. Rankin ; and when the kind'and reverend gen- 

 tleman reminded them of the promise made him for that morning, they all responded 

 " How, how, how !" 



They then, at the order of the chief, all spread their robes upon the floor, upon 

 which they took their seats, and at once were in council. 



The reverend gentleman then, in a tone and a manner the most winning, and cal- 

 culated to impress upon them tiie sincerity of his views, told them " he was aware 

 that they were religious, that they all worshiped the Great Spirit, but that he did 

 rot exactly know in what way ; that he did not come hero to tell them anything to 

 give them offense, but with the hope of learning something more of their belief and 

 modes of worship, of which he confessed he was ignorant, and also of explaining to 

 them what he and the other divines in the civilized world believed to be the best, if 

 not the only true religion ." (Here the old chief lighted his pipe, which he commenced 

 smoking.) 



The reverend gentleman then explained, in the briefest manner possible, and in 

 the mode the best calculated for their understanding (and which was literally inter- 

 preted them), the system of the Christian religion and the mode of redemption. 



