18 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



were particular to keep tbem clean and nice. The three boats beside my own had 

 each come into Pittsburgh and gone out again, but had refused to take the Indians on 

 the journey East. They all were afraid the Indians would dirty the boats or injure 

 the custom by their presence. The hotel keeper where they stopped in Pittsburgh told 

 the officers that they could get passage when Captain West came, for he never said 

 no to any one. So when I landed in Pittsburgh Colonel Street came on board at once 

 and insisted on my taking the Indians East. I saw the situation they were in, and 

 finally agreed to take them. I gave the officers cabins, of course, but would not 

 agree to make berths for the Indians. Neither did I make any agreement as to the 

 price to be paid. When I got through an officer brought me a blank bill which I 

 filled out for my charges. The Colonel said for me to just double the amount of the 

 bill ; it was not enough. I was astonished when I was paid in silver coin. 



When I took the Indians on board I was told to put the bedding away as they would 

 not know how to use it, and prepare their table without tablecloth or utensils, ex- 

 cept to contain the food. Their greed was great and everything they liked they 

 would eat all of it, the first one that got it. When the table was first set a castor was 

 left. One young Indian in his greed filled his mouth with mustard. He lost no time 

 in climbing right over the table and getting outside in an effort to empty his mouth. 

 But they had a good time. The weather was fine and they sat on deck and played 

 some gambling game all the time, aud no one of them ever refused liquor. They would 

 pound upon their little drum and dance and whoop, and the people along the line 

 came out and gazed in astonishment. We dared not stop at places, for the people 

 would get aboard the boat and impede progress. 



These Indians were fine looking fellows and were superbly decorated in genuine 

 Indian style. They had feathers in their hair, and their leggings and everything 

 about their costumes were very beautiful. One little black old Indian — he must have 

 been a hundred years old — had a little bell fastened to his leg. He lost this on the 

 boat and could not be made to leave the boat until it was found. We were delayed 

 until all hands had turned out and hunted high and low until the bell was found. 

 The cars, which they next took, were so strange to them and made so much noise 

 that they could hardly be kept on the train. When I came back to Pittsburgh I found 

 another delegation of officers and Indians waiting, and I took them. These were 

 Foxes, I think. The famous chief Poweshiek was with one of the crowds. Black 

 Hawk and Appanoose were also of the party. I remember Appanoose, because 

 I thought it was such a pretty name the way he himself pronounced it. In three 

 or four weeks the first party came back. They waited at Johnstown for me, and I 

 arrived there in the middle of the day. The Indians all rushed up to me and were 

 glad to see me. Each one of them presented me with his picture, a small photo- 

 graphic likeness they had gotten. They showed their medals with which they had 

 been presented, large silver medals with the profile of President Van Buren. 



I remember Chief Keokuk. He was a large man, above the average, and a fine look- 

 ing Indian. Going up through the mountains on the Conemaugh River we came to a 

 narrow gorge where the channel was very narrow and the mountains rose on either 

 side to an immense height. It was in the evening and the rays of the setting sun 

 upon the mountain tops made a scene of rare beauty. Before this grandeur and awe- 

 inspiring scene the chief Keokuk came upon the deck and gathered his followers 

 around him. They had evidently never before seen such a sight, and they were 

 hushed to silence as the great Indian spoke of the mountains. He performed some 

 sort of religious ceremony, impressive and grand. It seemed to me as though he was 

 praying. I have often thought of that wonderful man standing up in the midst of 

 his men, and the way they sprung up around him and listened. I never before par- 

 ticularly admired an Indian, but when I saw that man's gestures and heard his won- 

 derful voice, I was filled with admiration. I could tell by his gestures and his looks 

 that there was an eloquence about it that I never expected from these wildmen. 





