THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 271 



H. M. Brackenridge, in his journal of a voyage up the River Missouri, 

 in 1811, writes (pages 92 and 93) of Floyd's grave: 



About a mile below our encampment we passed Floyd's Bluff— and river — fourteen 

 miles from the Mahas (Omaha) village. Sergeant Floyd was of the party of Lewis 

 and Clarke. The place of his interment is marked by a wooden cross, which may be 

 seen by navigators at a considerable distance. The grave occupies a beautiful rising 

 ground, now covered with grass and wild flowers. The pretty little river, which 

 bears his name, is neatly fringed with willow and shrubbery. * * * It is several 

 years since he was buried here. No one has disturbed the cross which marks the 

 grave. Even the Indians who pass venerate the place, and often leave a present or 

 offering near it. 



Mr. Catlin saw it twenty-two years after Mr. Brackenridge. 



377. View on Upper Missouri; Sioux encamped, dressing buffalo meat and 



robes. Painted in 1832. (No plate.) 



378. View on Upper Missouri; " The Tower," eleven hundred miles above Saint 



Louis. Painted in 1832. (No plate.) 

 A name given by the travelers through the country to a high and remarkable clay 

 bluff, rising to the height of some hundreds of feet from the water, and having, in 

 distance, the castellated appearance of a fortification. — G. C. 



379. View on Upper Missouri; distant view of the Mandan village, eighteen 



hundred miles above Saint Louis. Painted in 1832. 

 (Plate No. 45, vol. 1, Catlin's Eight Years.) 



380. View on Upper Missouri ; picturesque clay bluff, seventeen hundred miles 



above Saint Louis. 



MANDAN VILLAGE, UPPER MISSOURI. 



I said that I was here in the midst of a strange people, which is literally true; and 

 I find myself surrounded by subjects and scenes worthy the pens of Irving or Cooper, 

 of the pencils of Raphael or Hogarth ; rich in legends and romances, which would 

 require no aid of the imagination for a book or a picture. 



The Mandans (or See-pohs-kah-nu-mak-kah-l'ee, " people of the pheasants," as they 

 call themselves) are perhaps one of the most ancient tribes of Indians in our coun- 

 try. Their origin, like that of all the other tribes, is, from necessity, involved in 

 mystery and obscurity. Their traditions and peculiarities I shall casually recite in 

 this or future epistles, which, when understood, will at once, I think, denominate 

 them a peculiar and distinct race. They take great pride in relating their traditions, 

 with regard to their origin, contending that they were the first people created on 

 earth. Their existence in these regions has not been from a very ancient period; 

 and, from what I could learn of their traditions, they have, at a former period, been 

 a very numerous and powerful nation ; but by the continual wars which have existed 

 between them and their neighbors they have been reduced to their present numbers. 



This tribe is at present located on the west bank of the Missouri, about eighteen 

 hundred miles above Saint Louis, and two hundred below the mouth of Yellowstone 

 River. They have two villages only, which die about two miles distant from each 

 other, and number in all (as near as I can learn)' about two thousand souls. Their 

 present villages are beautifully located, and judiciously also for defense against the 

 assaults of their enemies. The site of the lower (or principal) town in particular 

 (Plate 45) is one of the most beautiful and pleasing that can be seen in the world, 

 and even more beautiful than imagination could ever create. In the very midst of 

 an extensive valley (embraced within a thousand graceful swells and parapets or 



