THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 227 



sible. Were the area equally divided it would give 712 square miles to each as his 

 circuit. This police force, despite its inadequate salary, has been of incalculable 

 service in impressing upon the lawless the idea that the eye of the Government is on 

 them, in preventing crime and bringing criminals to justice, recovering stolen prop- 

 erty, &c. If their salaries could be increased it would be a wise economy in increas- 

 ing and maintaining its efficiency. 



MATERIAL GROWTH. 



The growth of the Indian people in material wealth has been rapid during the last 

 few years, and while during the year just closed the losses have been heavy in cattle 

 by comparison with other years, the crops have been reasonably good, large areas of 

 new land have been put in cultivation, and it is only a matter of few years when the 

 people will be a wealthy and strong community. The half-breed particularly is in- 

 telligent and progressive, surrounding himself with the comforts and refinements 

 of life, and using all means at his control to acquire and eDJoy the advantages of 

 accumulated wealth. Leaving out his idea as to what is good for the Indian, he 

 differs but little from his Kansas or Texas cousin. There are enormous quantities 

 of hay put up on the prairies, and this, with the extensive grazing and great ex- 

 tension of farms, argues that a few seasons will remove the envious growl of the 

 "boomer" that the Indian is not using the land. 



INDIAN PORTRAITS. 



[Nos. 1 to 310 ; pages 1 to 227 herein.] 



CERTIFICATES. 



[See page 8 herein for fac-similes. ] 



Mr. Catlin in aluiQst every case appended to his portraits a certificate 

 in aid of its authenticity, such as the following: 



I hereby certify that the persons whose signatures are affixed to the certificates 

 used below by Mr. Catlin are officers in the service of the United States, as herein 

 set forth, and that their opinions of the accuracy of the likenesses and correctness 

 of the views, &c, exhibited by him in his "Indian Gallery" are entitled to full 

 credit. 



J. R. POINSETT, 



Secretary of War, Washington. 



With regard to the gentlemen whose names are affixed to certificates below I 

 am fully warranted in saying that no individuals have had better opportunities of 

 acquiring a knowledge of the persons, habits, costumes, and sports of the Indian 

 tribes, or possess stronger claims upon the public confidence in the statements they 

 make respecting the correctness of delineations, &c, of Mr. Catlin's " Indian Gal- 

 lery ; " and I may add my own testimony with regard to many of those Indians whom 

 1 have seen, and whose likenesses are in the collection and sketched with fidelity 

 and correctness. 



C. A. HARRIS, 

 Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington. 



