THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 35 



a party of their enemy, the Sioux, and had taken several scalps. This was after a 

 treaty of peace had been made between the Sioux and the Sacs and Foxes to which 

 the United States was also a party. The Sioux therefore complained of the outrage 

 to the authorities at Washington, and an order was issued demanding the surrender 

 of the culprits. They were brought in and held as prisoners at Fort Armstrong, 

 where they were provided with comfortable quarters and plenty to eat during the 

 winter. After faring sumptuously several months at the expense of the Government, 

 and without labor or exertion on their part, they were released on payment to the 

 Sioux of a small amount out of the annuity due their tribe. Pashepaho, remember- 

 ing how well his braves had fared, concluded that the next winter he would have an 

 easy life in comfortable quarters, and avoid the labor of replenishing his larder with 

 a winter supply. So he voluntarily called on the commandant at Fort Armstrong, 

 and informed him that while on a recent hunting excursion he had yielded to temp, 

 tation and had taken the scalp of a Sioux whom he had met. He confessed that he 

 had done a very wrongful act, and wished to save the great father at Washington 

 the trouble of sending a letter ordering his arrest ; he would, therefore, surrender 

 himself as a prisoner. His plan, however, did not succeed any better than his former 

 plot to enter Fort Madison. The commandant, Colonel Davenport, told him he was 

 an honorable Indian, and that his voluntary oifer to surrender himself was sufficient 

 guarantee that he would appear when sent for. Pashepaho was never called upon to 

 answer to the self-preferred charge. 



Pashepaho was exceedingly vindictive in disposition. For some fancied offense he 

 once undertook a long journey with the avowed purpose of killing the Indian agent 

 at Prairie du Chien. The chief Taimah, hearing of the purpose of The Stabber, has- 

 tened to the agent and revealed his desigu, thus probably saving the agent's life. 



Pashepaho was among the chiefs present at the negotiation of the treaty of 1832, 

 when the "Black Hawk purchase" was made. He was also present at Fort Arm- 

 strong iu August, 1833, on the occasion of the liberation of Black Hawk and his com- 

 panions, where, after drinking a glass of champagne, he shook hands with Major Gar- 

 land and others, and then made the following speech : 



"Brothers: We met this morning. I am glad to meet again. That wine is very 

 good ; I never drank any before I have thought much of our meeting to-day ; it was 

 one that told us we were brothers — that we were Sacs. We had just returned from 

 a buffalo hunt; we thought it was time for our brothers to be here, as our father at 

 Saint Louis told us this was the moon. We started before the rising sun to meet you ; 

 we have met and taken our brothers by the hand in friendship. They always mis- 

 trusted our counsels, and went from the trail of the red men, where there were no 

 hunting-grounds and friends. They returned and found the dogs howling around 

 their wigwams, and wives looking for their husbands and children. They said we 

 counseled like women, but they have found our counsels were good. They have been 

 through the country of our great father. They have been to the wigwams of the 

 w T hite men, who received them in kindness and made glad their hearts. We thank 

 them. Say to them that Keokuk and Pashepaho thank them. Our brother [Black 

 Hawk] has promised to listen to the counsels of Keokuk. What he said iu council 

 to-day was like the Mississippi fog — the sun shone and the day is clear — let us forget ; 

 he did not mean it. His heart is good, but his ears have been open to bad counsels. 

 He has taken our great father by the hand, whose words are good. He listened to 

 them, and has closed his ears to the voice that comes across the great waters. He 

 now knows that he ought to listen to Keokuk. He counseled with us and our young 

 braves, who listened to his talk. We told our great father that all would be peace. 

 He opened his dark prison and let him see the sun once more; gave him to his wife 

 and children, who were without a lodge. I once took the great chief of the Osages 

 prisoner. I heard the cries of his women and children ; I took him out by the risin<- 

 sun, and put him upon the trail to his village. 'There,' said I, 'is the trail to 

 your village; go and tell your people that I, Pashepaho, the chief of the Sacs, sent 



