804 THE GEOEGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



particularly tlie style of dress of the aborigines, the value of such a graphic record of 

 the past increases year by year ; and there will remain no more trustworthy evidence 

 of what the Indians have been than? that afforded by these faithful sun-pictures, many 

 of which represent the villages, dwellings, and modes of life of these most interesting 

 people, and historical incidents of the respective tribes, as well as the faces, dresses, 

 and accouterments of many prominent individuals. 



Those who have never attempted to secure photographs and measurements or other 

 details of the physique of Indians — in shortj any reliable statistics of individuals or 

 bands — can hardly realize the obstacles to be overcome. The American Indian is ex- 

 tremely superstitious, and every attempt to take his picture is rendered difficult, if 

 not entirely frustrated, by his deejily rooted belief that the process places some poi-- 

 tion of himself in the power of the white man, and his suspicion that such control may 

 be used to his injury. No prescribed regulations for the taking of photographs, there- 

 fore, are likely to be fully carried out. As a rule, front and profile views have been 

 secured whenever practicable. Usually it is only when an Indian is subjected to con- 

 finement that those measurements of his person which are suitable for anthropological 

 purposes can be secured. In most cases the Indian will not allow his person to be 

 handled at all, nor submit to any inconvenience whatever. Much tact and persever- • 

 ance are required to overcome his superstitious notions, and in many cases, even of the 

 most noted chiefs of several tribes, no portrait can be obtained by any inducement 

 whatever. If, therefore, the collection fails to meet the full requirements of the an- 

 thropologist, it must be remembered that the obstacles in the way of realizing his 

 ideal of a perfect collection are insurmountable'. 



About two hundred of the portraits, or one-fifth of the whole collection, have been 

 derived from various sources, and most of these are pictures of Indians composing 

 the several delegations that have visited Washington from time to time during the 

 past ten years. Such individuals are usually among the most prominent and influen- 

 tial members of the respective tribes, of which they consequently furnish the best 

 samples. The greater portion of the whole collection is derived from the munificent 

 liberality of William Blackmore, esq., of London, England, the eminent anthropolo- 

 gist, who has for many years studied closely the history, habits, and manners of the 

 North American Indian. The Blackmore xjortion of the collection consists of a num- 

 ber of smaller lots from various sources ; and it is Mr. Blackmore's intention to enlarge 

 it to include, if possible, all the tribes of the North American continent. 



The entire collection, at the i^resent time consisting of upward of a thousand nega- 

 tives, represents ten leading ''families" of Indians, besides seven independent tribes, 

 the families being divisible into fifty-four "tribes," subdivision of which gives forty- 

 three "bands." The collection continues to increase as opportunity offers. 



The present Catalogue, prepared by Mr. W. H. Jackson, the well-known and 

 skillful photographer of the Survey, ^ far more than a mere enumeration of the neg- 

 atives. It gives in full, yet in concise and convenient form, the information which 

 the Survey has acquired respecting the subjects of the pictures, and is believed to 

 represent an acceptable contribution to anthropological literature. 



F. V. HAYDEN, 

 United States Geologist. 



The following descriptive catalogue is intended to systematize the collection of 

 photographic portraits of Indians now in the possession of the United States Geolog- 

 ical Survey of the Territories, and to place on record all the information we have been 

 able to obtain of the various individuals and scenes represented. It is, of course, far 

 from complete ; but it is a beginning, and every new fact that comes to light will be 

 added to what has already been secured. This information has been gathered from 

 many sources, principally from Indian delegates visi'iing Washington, and by corre- 

 spondence with agents and others living in the Indian country. 



