78 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



RIC-CA-REES. 



[ Arickarecs : Laws of tho United States. Arickarees : Indian Bureau, June 30, 1885. 

 Former names: Arickaree, Ricaree, Rec] 



A small but very hostile tribe of 2,500, on the west bank o*f the Missouri, 1,600 miles 

 above its junction with the Mississippi ; living in one village of earth-covered lodges. 



Mr. Catlin painted these people in 1832, the same season that he vis- 

 ited the Mandans. The four persons whom he painted he foiind in the 

 Mandan villages. 



123. Stan-au-pat, tho Bloody Hand ; chief of the tribe. His face painted red with 



vermilion, scalpiug-knife in his hand ; wearing a beautiful dress. 



(Painted in 1852. Plate No. 82, page 204, vol. 1, Catlin's Eight Years.) 



124. Kah-beck-a, the Twin j wife of the chief (No. 123). 



(Painted at Mandan village in 1832. Plate No. 81, page 204, vol. 1, 

 Catlin's Eight Years.) 



125. Pshan-shaw, the Sweet-scented Grass; a girl of twelve years old, daughter of 



tho chief (No. 123), full length, in a beautiful dress of tho mountain sheep- 

 skin, neatly garnished, and robe of tho young buffalo. 



(Painted in 1832. Plate No. 84, page 204, vol. 1, Catlin's Eight Years.) 

 The inner garment, which is like a slip or frock, is entire in one piece, and beauti- 

 fully ornamented with embroidery and beads, with a row of elk's teeth passing across 

 the breast, and a robe of the young buffalo's skin, tastefully and elaborately em- 

 broidered, gracefully thrown over her shoulders, and hanging down to the ground 

 behind her. — Ibid. 



126. Pah-too-ca-ra, He who Strikes ; a distinguished brave. 



(Painted in 1832. Plate No. 83, pages 203-204, vol. 1, Catlin's Eight 

 Years. ) 



The operation of my brush always gains me many enthusiastic friends wherever I 

 go amongst these wild folks ; and in this village I have been unusually honored, and 

 even afflicted, by the friendly importunities of one of these reverencing parasites 

 (No. 126"), who (amongst various other offices of kosj)itality and kindness which he 

 has been bent upon extending to me) has insisted on, and for several nights been in- 

 dulged in, the honor, as he would term it, of offering his body for my pillow, which 

 I have not had the heart to reject, and of course he had not lacked the vanity to 

 boast of as an act of signal kindness and hospitality on his part towards a great and 

 a distinguished stranger ? 



I have been for several days suffering somewhat with an influenza, which has in- 

 duced me to leave my bed on the side of the lodge and sleep on the floor, wrapped 

 in a buffalo robe, with my feet to the fire in the center of the room, to which place 

 the genuine politeness of my constant and watchful friend has as regularly drawn 

 him, where his irresistible importunities have brought me night after night to the 

 only alternative of using his bedaubed and bear-greased body for a pillow. 



Being unwilling to deny tho poor fellow the satisfaction he seemed to be drawing 

 from this singular freak, I took some pains to inquire into his character, and learned 

 that he was a Riccaree brave, by the name of PaTi-too-ca'-ra (He who Strikes), who 

 is here with several others of his tribe on a friendly visit (though in a hostile village), 

 and living as they are unprotected except by the mercy of their enemies. I think it 

 jjrobable, therefore, that he is ingeniously endeavoring thus to ingratiate himself in my 

 affections, and consequently to insure my guardianship and influence for his protec- 

 tion. Be this as it may, he is rendering me kind services, and I have in return traced 

 him on my canvas for immortality.— Page 204, vol, 1, Catlin's Eight Years. 



