116 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



I have also painted (No. 172, Ee-a-chiu-che-a, Red Tliunder) at full length, in his 

 war dress, with his bow in his hand, his quiver slung, and his shield upon his arm. 



In this plight, sans head-dress, sans robe, and sans everything that might be a use- 

 less incumbrance — with the body chiefly naked, and profusely bedaubed with red and 

 black paint, so as to form an almost perfect disguise — the Indian warriors invariably 

 sally forth to war, save the chief, who always plumes himself, aud leads on his little 

 band, tendering himself to his enemies a conspicuous mark, with all his ornaments 

 and trophies upon him, that his enemies, if they get him, may get a prize worth the 

 tightiug for. — G. C. 



173. Pa-ris-roo-pa, the Two Crows; with a handsome shirt, ornamented with ermine, 



and necklace of grisly bears' claws. This man is now the head chief of 

 the tribe. Painted in 1832. (Two plates.) 



174. ( ), ; woman, tho wife of the Two Crows. Painted in 1832. 



175. Seet-se'-be-a, the Mid-day Sun; a pretty girl, in mountain-sheep skin dress- 



and fan of the eagle's tail in her hand. Painted in 1832. 

 (Plate No. 74, page 188, vol. 1, Catlin's Eight Years.) 



From the very numerous groups of these women, that have from day to day con- 

 stantly pressed upon me, overlooking the operations of my brush, I have been un- 

 able to get more than one who would consent to have her portrait painted, owing to 

 some fear or dread of harm that might eventually ensue in consequence, or from a 

 natural coyness or timidity, which is surpassing all description amongst these wild 

 tribes when in presence of strangers. 



The one whom I have painted (Plate 74) is a descendant from the old chief, and 

 though not the most beautiful, is yet a fair sample of them, and dressed in a beau- 

 tiful costume of the mountain-sheep skin, handsomely garnished with porcupine 

 quills and beads. This girl was almost compelled to stand for her picture by her rel- 

 atives, who urged her on, whilst she modestly declined, offering as her excuse that 

 " she was not pretty enough, and that her picture would be laughed at." This was 

 either ignorance or excessive art on her part, for she was certainly more than comely, 

 and the beauty of her name, Seet-se'-be-a (the Mid-day Sun) is quite enough to make 

 up for a deficiency, if there were. any, in the beauty of her face. — G. C. 



ALGONKIN— GROS-VENTRES (MINATA-REES). 



(See Sioux, Dakotas, and Algonkin, herein.) 



This tribe originally lived with the Crows, but separated from them. 



MR. CATLINGS NOTES ON THE GROS VENTRES INDIANS. 



The Minatarees (peoi>le of the willows) are a small tribe of about one thousand five 

 hundred souls, residing in three villages of earth-covered lodges, on the banks of 

 Knife River, a small stream, so-called, meandering through a beautiful and extensive 

 prairie, and uniting its waters with the Missouri (now near Man dan, Dakota). 



This small community is undoubtedly a part of the tribe of Crows, of whom I have 

 already spoken, living at the base of the Rocky Mountains, Avho have at some remote 

 period, either in their war or hunting excursions, been run off by their enemy, and 

 their retreat having been prevented, have thrown themselves upon the hospitality of 

 the Mandans, to whom they have looked for protection, and under whose wing they 

 are now living in a sort of confederacy, ready to intermarry and also to join, as they 

 often have done, in the common defense of their country. 



In language and j)ersonal appearance, as well as in many of their customs, they 

 are types of the Crows ; yet having adopted and so long lived under its influence, the 

 system of tho Mandans, they are much like them in many respects, and continually 



