724 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



in some mysterious way affect their health or do them other iujury. — Pages 226,227, 

 vol. 1, Catlin's Eight Years. 



PAINTING AMONG THE MANDANS. 



I have been continually at work with rny brush, with iine and picturesque sub- 

 jects before me, and from the strange, whimsical, and superstitious notions which 

 they have of an art so novel and unaccountable to them, I have been -initiated into 

 many of their mysteries — have witnessed many very curious incidents, and jire- 

 served several anecdotes, some of which I must relate. 



Perhaps nothing ever more completely astonished these people than the operations 

 of my brush. The art of portrait-painting was a subject entirely new to them, and 

 of course unthought of; and my appearance here has commenced a new era in the 

 arcana of medicine or mystery. Soon after arriving here I commenced and finished 

 the portraits of the two principal chiefs. This was done without having awakened 

 the curiosity of the villagers, as they had heard nothing of what was going on, and 

 even the chiefs themselves seemed to be ignorant of my designs, until the pictures 

 were completed. No one else was admitted into my lodge during the operation; and 

 when finished it was exceedingly amusing to see them mutually recognizing each 

 other's likeness, and assuring each other of the striking resemblance which they bore 

 to the originals. Both of these pressed their hand over their mouths awhile in dead 

 silence (a custom amongst most tribes, when anything surprises them very much) ; 

 looking attentively upon the portraits and myself, and upon the palette and colors 

 with which these unaccountable effects had been produced. 



They then walked up to me in the most gentle manner, taking me in turn by the 

 hand, with a firm grip, with head and eyes inclined downwards, and in a tone a little 

 above a whisper pronounced the words Te-lio-pe-nee JFash-ee, and walked off. 



Readers, at that moment I was christened with a new and great name — one by 

 which I am now familiarly hailed, and talked of in this village; and no doubt will 

 be as long as traditions last in this strange community. That moment conferred an 

 honor on me, which you as yet do not understand. I took the degree (not of Doc- 

 tor of Laws, nor Bachelor of Arts) but of Master of Arts — of mysteries — of magic, 

 and of hocus-pocus. I was recognized in that short sentence as a "great medicine 

 ivliiie man," and since that time have been regularly installed medicine or mystery, 

 which is the most honorable degree that could be conferred upon me here ; and I now 

 hold a place amongst the most eminent and envied personages, the doctor and con- 

 jurati of this titled community. 



Te-ho-pe-nee Wash-ee (or medicine white man) is the name I now go by, audit 

 will prove to me, no doubt, of more value than gold, for I have been called upon 

 and feasted by the doctors, who are all mystery-men ; it has been an easy and suc- 

 cessful passport already to many strange and mysterious places; and has put me in 

 possession of a vast deal of curious and interesting information, which I am sure I 

 never should have otherwise learned. I am daily growing in the estimation of the 

 medicine-men and the chiefs ; and by assuming all the gravity and circumspection 

 due from so high a dignitary (and even considerably more), and endeavoring to per- 

 form now and then some art or trick that is unfathomable, I am in hopes of support- 

 ing my standing, until the great annual ceremony commences; on which occasion, I 

 may possibly be allowed a seat in the medicine-lodge by the doctors, who are the sole 

 conductors of this great source and fountain of all priestcraft and conjuration in 

 this country. 



After I had finished the portraits of the two chiefs, and they had returned to their 

 wigwams, and deliberately seated themselves by their respective firesides, and 

 silently smoked a pipe or two (according to an universal custom), they gradually 

 began to tell what had taken place ; and at length crowds of gaping listeners, with 

 mouths wide open, thronged their lodges, and a throng of women and girls were 

 about my house, and through every crack and crevice I could see their glistening 



