156 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



his attachment to, and veneration for, the ancient customs and traditions of his tribe. 

 He had a contempt for the English language and disdained to use any other than his 

 own. He was the finest specimen of the Indian character I ever knew, and sustained 

 it with more dignity than any other chief. He was the second in authority in his 

 tribe ; as an orator he was unequalled by any Indian I ever saw. His language was 

 beautiful and figurative, as the Indian language always is, and delivered with the 

 greatest ease and fluency. His gesticulation was easy, graceful, and natural. His 

 voice was distinct and clear, and he always spoke with great animation. His memory 

 was very strong. I have acted as interpreter to most of his speeches, to which no 

 translation could do adequate justice. — McKenny and Hall, vol. 1, pages 5 and 6. 



A REMINISCENCE OF RED JACKET. 



Eev. Edmund B. Tuttle, chaplain, U. S. A., relates the following, in 



1878: 



The first Indian chief I had ever seen in my native town (Auburn, N. Y.) was Red 

 Jacket. * * * Red jacket was a noble specimen of his race, and having suffered 

 many wrongs from his white neighbors, would never us© the English tongue, but al- 

 ways spoke to the whites through an interpreter. He visited our town one day (in 

 1824 ?) and was invited to dine at a hotel. Roast beef, turkey, chicken, and venison 

 were served up at table. Opposite sat a white man who used some mustard on his 

 beef and then pushed it over to the Indians (Red Jacket was one of them) who had 

 never seen any before. Being an imitative animal, Red Jacket took a good half- 

 teaspoonful with a piece of meat into his mouth, but said nothing as the tears came 

 into his eyes. The other took a little of it, and then asked what made him cry. 

 11 Well," said he (Red Jacket), "I was thinking of an old Indian who died the other 

 day." Then he asked the other Indian who had just eaten the mustard and meat, 

 why he cried also. " I was sorry (crying) you didn't die when your friend did." 



RED JACKET'S RELIGIOUS VIEWS. 



In the summer of 1805, a number of the principal chiefs and war- 

 riors of the six nations, principally Senecas, assembled at Buffalo Creek, 

 in the State of New York, at the particular request of the Eev. Mr. 

 Crane, a missionary from the State of Massachusetts. The missionary 

 was furnished with an interpreter, and accompanied by the United 

 States agent of Indian affairs. The agent opened the council and the 

 Eev. Crane followed. 



The Indians consulted for a couple of hours after Mr. Crane had fin- 

 ished his address, asking them to permit the Boston Society to send 

 missionaries to the Indians. They selected Eed Jacket to make the 

 reply for them. After an eloquent opening Eed Jacket gave the fol- 

 lowing statement of the — 



RELIGIOUS VIEWS OF THE SIX NATIONS. 



We also have a religion which was given to our forefathers, and has been handed 

 down to us, their children. We worship in that way. It teaches as to be thankful 

 for all the favors we receive ; to love each other, and to be united. We never quarrel 

 about religion. 



The Great Spirit has made us all, but he has made a difference between his white 

 and red children. He has given us different complections and different customs. To 



