274 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



lower ground and almost lost amidst their numerous corn-fields and other profuse 

 vegetation which cover the earth with their luxuriant growth. 



The scenery along the banks of this little river, from village to village, is quite pe- 

 culiar and curious, rendered extremely so by the continual wild and garrulous groups 

 of men, women, and children who are wending their way along its winding shores, 

 or dashing and plunging through its blue waves, enjoying the luxury of swimming, 

 of which both sexes seem to be passionately fond. Others are paddling about in their 

 tub-like canoes, made of the skins of buffaloes. — G. C. 



384. View on Upper Missouri; Fort Pierre, mouth of Teton River, fur company's 



trading-post, twelve hundred miles above Saint Louis, with six hundred 

 lodges of Sioux Indians encamped about it in skin lodges. Painted in 1832. 

 (Plate No. 85, page 208, vol. 1, Catliu's Eight Years.) 

 (See Itinerary, 1832.) 



385. View on Upper Missouri ; Nishnabottana bluffs, teu hundred and seventy 



miles above Saint Louis. Painted in 1832. 



386. View on Upper Missouri ; Riccaree village, with earth-covered lodges, sixteen 



hundred miles above Saint Louis. Paiuted in 1832. 



(Plate No. 80, page 204, vol. 1, Catlin's Eight Years.) 



The Riccaree village was on the west bank of the Missouri Biver, 

 near the present town of Bennett, Dak. 



Plate 80 (No. 386) gives a view of the Riccaree village, which is beautifully situated 

 on the west bank of the river, two hundred miles below the Mandans, and built very 

 much in the same manner, being constituted of one hundred and fifty earth-covered 

 lodges, which are in part surrounded by an imperfect and open barrier of pickets set 

 firmly in the ground, and ten or twelve feet in height. 



This village is built upon an open prairie, and the gracefully undulating hills that 

 rise in the distance behind are everywhere covered with a verdant green turf, with- 

 out a tree or a bush anywhere to be seen. This view was taken from the deck of the* 

 steamer when I was on my way up the river ; and probably it was well that I took 

 it then, for so hostile and deadly are the feelings of these people toward the pale faces 

 at this time that it may be deemed most prudent for me to pass them on my way down 

 the river without stopping to make them a visit. They certainly are harboring the 

 most resentful feelings at this time toward the traders and others passing on the river, 

 and no doubt there is great danger of the lives of any white men who unluckily fall 

 into their hands. They have recently sworn death and destruction to every white 

 man who comes in their way, and there is no doubt that they are ready to execute 

 their threats. — G. C. 



387. View on Upper Missouri ; south side of Buffalo Island, showing the beautiful 



buffalo bush, with its blue leaves, and bending down with fruit. Painted 

 in 1832. 



388. View on Upper Missouri ; mouth of Yellowstone ; fur company's fort (Port 



Union), their principal post, two thousand miles above Saint Louis, and a 

 large party of Knisteneux encamped upon it. Painted in June, 1832. 

 (Plate No. 3, page 14, vol. 2, Catlin's Eight Years.) 



Fort Union, a trading post of the American Fur Company, was built 

 in 1820 (July). It was the first fort built on the Missouri River above 

 the mouth of the Yellowstone. It was on the north bank of the river 

 (see Plate No. 3, page 14, vol. 1, Catlin's Eight Years, and No. 388 

 of this collection; also see sketch, reproduced herein), five miles below 





