14 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



have represented liiin in the costume precisely in which he was dressed when he stood 

 for it, with his shield on his arm and his staff (insignia of office) in his left hand. 

 There is no Indian chief on the frontier better known at this time, or more highly ap- 

 preciated for his eloquence as a public speaker, than Kee-o-kuk, as he has repeat- 

 edly visited Washington and others of our Atlantic towns, aad made his speeches 

 before thousands, when he has been contending for his people's rights, in their stipu- 

 lations with the United States Government, for the sale of their lands. — G. C, 1836, 

 page 210, vol. 2, Catlin's Eight Years. 



Mr. Catlin, in September, 1834, visited Keokuk and tbe Sacs and 

 Foxes at or near Des Moines. (See " Intinerary for 1834.") After reach- 

 ing Keokuk's village he thus describes him : 



Colonel Kearney gave us a corporal's command of eight men, with horses, &c, for 

 the journey, and we reached the village in two days' travel, about sixty miles up 

 the Des Moines River. The whole country that we passed over was like a garden, 

 wanting only cultivation, being mostly prairie, and we found their village beautifully 

 situated on a large prairie, on the bank of the Des Moines River. They seemed to be 

 well supplied with the necessaries of life, and with some of its luxuries. I found Ke- 

 o-kuck to be a chief of fine and portly figure, with a good countenance, and great 

 dignity and grace in his manners. 



General Street had some documents from Washington to read to him, which he and 

 his chiefs listened to with great patience ; after which he placed before us good brandy 

 and good wine, and invited us to drink and to lodge with him; ho then called up 

 five of his runners or criei'8, communicated to them in a low, but emphatic tone, the 

 substance of the talk from the agent, and of the letters read to him, and they started 

 at full gallop, one of them proclaiming it through his village, and the others sent 

 express to the other villages, comprising the whole nation. Ke-o-kuck came in with 

 us, with about twenty of his principal men — he brought in all his costly wardrobe, 

 that I might select for his portrait such as suited me best ; but at once named (of his 

 own accord) the one that was purely Indian. In that he paraded for several days, 

 and in it I painted him at full length. He is a man of a great deal of pride, and 

 makes truly a splendid appearance on his black horse. He owns the finest horse in 

 the country, and is excessively vain of his appearance when mounted, and arrayed, 

 himself and horse, in all their gear and trappings. He expressed a wish to see him- 

 self represented on horseback, and I painted him in that plight. He rode and nettled 

 his prancing steed in front of my door until its sides were in a gore of blood. I suc- 

 ceeded to his satisfaction, and his vanity is increased, no doubt, by seeing himself 

 immortalized in that way. After finishing him, I painted his favorite wife (the fa- 

 voured one of seven), his favourite boy, and eight or ten of his principal men and 

 women ; after which, he and all his men shook hands with me, wishing me well, and 

 leaving, as tokens of regard, the most valued article of his dr^ss, and a beautiful 

 string of wampum, which he took from his wife's neck. 



They then departed for their village in good spirits, to prepare for their fa 11 hunt. — 

 Geo. Catlin, page 149, vol. ii, Eight Years. 



Mr. Catlin saw Keokuk many times during the years from 1834 to 1838, 

 both on the frontier and in Eastern cities. His first visit to him in 1834 ? 

 as above set out, was memorable from the fact that he saw him in the 

 midst of his people and at their home. 



He was evidently much impressed with Keokuk — finding in him his 

 ideal red man. Mr. Catlin does not note whether in his intercourse 

 with him Keokuk spoke English. It is presumed that he did not (al- 

 though he understood it fairly well), from the fact that he always in 

 public, either in his orations or interviews with official or other persons, 



