THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 39 



whites, laying aside the old Indian hoes and spades, the scythe and sickle, and using 

 instead improved cultivators and plows in cultivating their fields, mowers in cutting 

 their grass, and horse-rakes in putting up their hay. They are to a large extent 

 abandoning their old habit of " packing" or carrying their burdens on their ponies, 

 and instead are using wagons for this purpose, owning now fifteen wagons, which are 

 kept for their own use and purchased with their own money. In years past they 

 had been in the habit of letting their ponies run at large upon their lands and the 

 commons, but the demands of civilization with which they are surrounded have 

 compelled them to build fences, which they have done year by year, completing some 

 one hundred and ten rods this year, so that in fact their entire reservation is now 

 practically under fence, making a grand and commodious pasture for their stock, 

 which is composed exclusively of ponies or horses. In their culinary department 

 they have also made some progress, adopting, as well as their limited facilities will 

 permit, some of the customs of their white sisters. They make very good bread and 

 biscuits, fair pies and cakes, and most elegant soups ; have a cloth laid and dishes on 

 their table (which is generally the ground). 



In their relations with the whites they observe the Christian Sabbath, never com- 

 ing to town on that day, making visits, or traveling around the country. 



In habits they are a quiet, peaceful, even-tempered people, naturally averse to 

 work and inclined to idleness; but the present year they have done fairly well at 

 work. As a rule, however, they seem at their best visiting the neighboring towns 

 begging, or in some shady nook about their homes smoking, chatting, and playing- 

 cards. They lack thrift, industry, and a spirit of progress. They have a well- 

 defined religion. While not what might be strictly called orthodox, it is wide apart 

 from paganism. They believe in the living God, and seriously aud devotedly worship 

 Him, regarding Him as the giver of all their good things, and the sure avenger of 

 their wrongs. Their religion partakes largely of the Jewish character. Feasts are 

 held and prayers offered before their crops are planted, aud another series of pray- 

 ers and thanksgiving when their crops are gathered. Blessings and invocations 

 are said when a child is born, and beautiful prayers are offered at the grave for the 

 safe transmission of the spirit of the dead to Heaven. Holy or consecrated tobacco 

 is burned on certain occasions as incense, and they have something that profane eyes 

 are never allowed to see, called "Me-sham,' f corresponding to the Jewish Ark of the 

 Covenant. * * * 



KONZAS. 



[Kansas or Kaw. Laws of United States and Indian Bureau, June, 1835.] 



A tribe of 1.560 souls, residing on the Konza River, 60 or 80 miles west of the Mis- 

 souri. Uncivilized remains of a powerful and warlike tribe. One-half died with the 

 smallpox a few years since. This tribe shave the head like the Osages, Sacs and 

 Foxes.— G. C. 



Mr. Catlin visited them in 1831-'32. 



22. Sho-me-kos-see, the Wolf; one of the chiefs; his head curiously ornamented, 



and numerous strings of wampum on his neck. 



(Plate No. 133, page 23, vol. 2, Catlin's Eight Years.) 

 Sho-me-cos-see, a chief of some distinction, with a bold and manly outline of head, 

 exhibiting, like most of this tribe, an European outline of features, signally worth the 

 notice of the inquiring world. The head of this chief was most curiously ornamented, 

 and his neck bore a profusion of wampum strings. — George Catlin, 18^1, p. 23, vol. 

 2, Eight Years. 



23. Jee-he-o-ho-shah, Ho who cannot be thrown down ; a warrior. 



(No plate. Painted 1831-'32. ) 



