THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 55 



well as in the South Sea Islands. It is what was called by the first European visit- 

 ors of North America the feather mantle and feather blanket. * * * A splendid 

 necklace, formed of about sixty claws of the grizzly bear, imparted a manly charac- 

 ter to his whole appearance. His leggins, jacket, and moccasins were in the real 

 Dakota fashion, being made of white skins, profusely decorated -with human hair! 

 His moccasins were variegated with the plumage of several birds. 



In his hair he wore nine sticks, neatly cut and smoothed, and painted with vermil- 

 ion. These designated the number of gunshot wounds which he had received. They 

 were secured by a strip of red cloth. Two plaited tresses of his hair were allowed to 

 hang forward. His face was tastefully painted with vermilion. In his hand he bore 

 a large fan of the feathers of the turkey. This he frequently used. 



"YVanata in 1812 joined the British and fought, under Colonel Dixon, at Sandusky, 

 against the United States. 



In illustration of the superstition as well as the fortitude of the Indian character 

 " Wanata, in 1822, on the eve of a journey amongst the Chippewas, made a vow to 

 the sun that if he should return safely he would abstain from food and drink for four 

 days and nights, and would distribute among his people all his property of every de- 

 scription. Returning without accident, his first care was to celebrate the dance of 

 the sun. * * * Deep incisions were made in the breast and arms, so as to sepa- 

 rate the skin from the flesh, in the form of loops, through which a rope was passed, 

 and the ends fastened to a tall vertical pole, erected for the purpose in front of his 

 lodge. He began the horrid exercise at the commencement of his fast and continued 

 it throughout the four days, sometimes dancing, and frequently throwing his whole 

 weight upon the cord which was passed through his skin, and swinging to and fro 

 in this painful position. At the conclusion he sunk exhausted, and was relieved by 

 his friends. After the ceremony was over he distributed among his people all his 

 property, consisting of his lodges, dogs, guns, trinkets, robes, and several fine horses ; 

 and he and his two wives, abandoning their tent with its furniture, took up their 

 lodging in the open air." 



At 45 years of age he was described as " a tall and finely formed man, more than six 

 feet in height. His manners are dignified and reserved, and his attitudes, though 

 studied, are graceful. He commands more influence (in 18:58) than any other Indian 

 chief on the continent. His rule over his own tribe is absolute. He has no rival or 

 compeer. He resorts neither to presents nor to persuasion to secure obedience, but 

 issues his peremptory mandates, which are never disputed." 



The traders speak of him as one who may be trusted, because it is policy to be at 

 peace with the whites; but they place no confidence in his friendship and have little 

 faith in his integrity. Brave, skillful, and sagacious, he is grasping, artful, and 

 overbearing. It is safer to secure his interest than to trust to his generosity or 

 mercy. Along the upper Missouri he was supreme. After the Ricaree villages were 

 burned in 1823 by Colonel Leavenworth, Wanata took up the scepter of ruler and 

 reigned over the Ricarees and Mandans for years. His village was between the Ric- 

 aree and Mandan villages. He died, it is supposed, in 1848. — McKenney & Hall, vol. 

 1, pages 110 to 112. 



73. T6h-to-wah-k6n-da-pee, the Blue Medicine, a noted " medicine-man," or doctor, 



at the Saint Peter's, of the Ting-ta-to-ah band, with his medicine or mystery 



drum and rattle in his hands, his looking-glass on his breast, his rattle of 



antelope's hoofs, and drum of deer-skins. 



These "medicine-men" are conjurers as well as physicians, paying their dernier 



visits to the sick with their mysteries, endeavoring and pretending to cure by a charm. 



(Painted 1835. Plate No. 233, page 134, vol. 2, Catlin's Eight Years.) 



( 74. Ah-no-je-nahge, He who stands on both Sides; and 



( 75. We-chush-ta-doo-ta, the Red Man, the two most distinguished ball-players 



of the Sioux tribe, in their ball-play dress, with their ball-sticks in their 



hands. 



