670 THE GEOEGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



the enterprise, depended upon tlie event, but what to him was iierhaps as high an 

 incentive — that his standing with the ladies of Paris wouhl probably be regulated 

 for the whole time they should be there by the sensation he should make at the first 

 dash. He therefore put on his most coutideut smile as he went into the dance ; as he 

 tilted about and pointed out the track where his enemy had gone, he made signs that 

 the enemy had passed by, and then, beckoning up his warriors, pointed liim out 

 amongst a group of beautiful ladies who had taken an elevated and conspicuous 

 position in front. He sounded the war-whoop and all echoed it as he pointed toward 

 the ladies, who screamed and leaped from their seats as the Indians' weapons were 

 drawn ! Here was an excitement begun, and the old Doctor smiled as ho turned his 

 head and his weapons in other directions, and proceeded with the dance. At the end 

 of its first part their feet all came to a simultaneous stop, when the Doctor advanced 

 to the front of the platform, and, brandishing his spear over the heads of the audi- 

 ence, made the most tremendous boast of the manner in which he took a prisoner in 

 a battle with the Pawnees, and drove him home before his horse rather than take his 

 life ; he then plunged into the most agitated dance alone, and acting out the whole 

 features of his battle in time to the song and beating of the drum ; and at the close 

 rounds of applause awaited him in every part of the crowd. These the Doctor re- 

 ceived with so complaisant a smile of satisfaction, as he bowed his head gracefully in- 

 clined on one side, that another and another burst of applause, and another bow and 

 smile followed ; satisfying him that the path was cleared before him. He then shook 

 his rattle of deer's hoofs, and, summoning his warriors, they all united in finishing 

 with full and wild effect this spirited dance. Though in the midst of a dancing coun- 

 try, their mode of dancing was quite new, and was evidently calculated to amuse, from 

 the immense applause that was given them at the end of their first effort. 



DISTINGUISHED AUDIENCE. 



My kind friend M. Vattemare, who had now become a great favorite of the Indians, 

 went forward, and offered them his hand to encourage them, assuring them of the 

 great pleasure the audience were taking, and encouraging them to go on with all the 

 spirit they could, as there were some of the most distinguished people of Paris 

 present — the minister of the interior and his lady, the prefet de police, several foreign 

 ambassadors, and a number of the editors of the leading journals, who were taking 

 notes, and would speak about them in the papers the next morning. 



The eagle dance was now announced to the audience as the next amusement ; and, 

 after a brief description of it, the Little IFo7/ sprang upon his feet, and sounding his 

 eagle whistle, and shaking the eagle's tail in his left hand, while he brandished his 

 tomahawk in his right, he commenced. His fellow- warriors were soon engaged with 

 him, snd all excited to the determination to make " a hit." As after the first, they 

 were complimented by rounds of ax^plause, and sat down to their pipe with peculiar 

 satisfaction. The War-chief took the first few whifis upon it, and, rising, advanced 

 to the front of the platform, and in the most dignified and graceful attitude that the 

 orator could assume, extended his right hand over the heads of the audience, and said : 



wae-chief's speech. 



"My friends, it gives us great pleasure to see so many pleasant faces before us to- 

 night, and to learn from your applause that you are amused with our dances. We 

 are but children ; we live in the woods, and are ignorant, and you see us here as the 

 Great Spirit made us ; and our dances are not like the dances of the French people, 

 whom we have been told dance the best of any people in the world. ('How, how, how ! ' 

 and immense applause.) 



"My friends, we come here not to teach you to dance (a roar of applause and 

 laughter); we come here not to teach you anything, for you are a great deal wiser 



