THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. G61 



" In the United States a man is ' smart ; ' in England he is ' clever.' 

 Custom-houses and railways and diligences have been a thousand times described, 

 and I need say nothing of them, pxcept that we got through them all, and into the 

 Victoria Hotel, in Parjj^ where we found rest, fine beds, kind attentions, and enough 

 to eat. 



INDIANS ARRIVE IN PARIS. 



A few days after my arrival in Paris (1845), Mr, Melody made his appearance with 

 his party of loways, for whom apartments were prepared in the same hotel, and after 

 much fatigue and vexation the immense hall in Rue St. Honord (Salle Valentino) was 

 engaged as the place for their future operations. Daniel in the meantime was mov- 

 ing up with the Indian collection of 8 tons weight, and in a few days all parties were 

 on the ground, though there was to be some delay in arranging the numerous collec- 

 tions, and in getting the Indians introduced to the King, which was the first object. 

 They had entered the city at a late hour at night, and for several days it had been 

 impossible to attend to the necessary arrangements for driving them about ; and they 

 became excessively impatient to be on wheels again, to get a glimpse of the strange 

 and beautiful things which they knew were about them. In the meantime they were 

 taking all the amusement to themselves that they could get, by looking out of the 

 windows; and their red and crested heads in Paris soon drew a crowd together in the 

 streets, and thousands of heads protruding from the windows and house-tops. The 

 Doctor soon found his way to the roof, and from that regaled his eyes, at an early 

 hour, with a bird's-eye view of the boundless mystery and confusion of chimneys and 

 house-tops and domes and spires that were around him. 



The servants in the house were at first alarmed, and the good landlady smiled at 

 their unexpected appearance; and she roared with laughter when she was informed 

 that the beds were all to be removed from their rooms, that they sf^read their own 

 robes, and, in preference, slept upon the floor. All in the house, however, got at- 

 tached to them in a few days, and all went pleasantly on. 



VISIT TO THE AMERICAN MINISTER. 



The first airing they took in Paris was in an omnibus with four, as they had been 

 driven in London ; but, to the old Doctor's exceeding chagrin, there was no seat for 

 him to take outside by the side of the driver. He was easily reconciled, however, to 

 his seat with the rest, and they thus soon had a glance at a number of the principal 

 streets of the city, and were landed at the American embassy, to pay their first re- 

 spects to Mr. King, at that time the minister to France. They were received by Mr. 

 King and his niece with great kindness ; and after a little conversation, through the 

 interpreter, Mr. King invited them to the table, loaded with cakes and fruit, and 

 offered them a glass of wine, proposing their health, and at the same time telling 

 them that, though he was opposed to encouraging Indians to drink, yet he was quite 

 sure that a glass or two of the viii rouge of the French would not hurt them. The 

 color of it seemed to cause them to hesitate a moment, while they were casting their 

 eyes around upon me. They understood the nod of my head, and hearing mo pro- 

 nounce it cMckahobboo, took the hint and drank it off with great pleasure. Mr. Melody 

 here assured Mr. King of the temperate habits of these people ; and I explained to the 

 party the origin .lud meaning of chicl(ahol}boo, which pleased them all very much. 

 They partook of a second glass, and also of the cakes and fruit, and took leave, the 

 war-chief having thanked Mr. King and his niece for their kindness, and having ex- 

 pressed his great pleasure at meeting so kind an American gentleman so far from 

 home. 



The Indians were now in their omnibus again, and Mr. Melody and myself in our 

 carriage, with a kind friend, Mons. A. Vattemare, who had obtained for the Indiais 

 an invitation to visit the Hotel de Ville. where we were now to drive. In this drive 



