THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 305 



tlie north, a distance of 3,000 miles. These horses are all of small stature, of the pony- 

 order, but a very hardy and tough animal, being able to perform for the Indians a 

 continual and essential service. 



They are taken with the lasso, which is a long halter or thong, made of raw hide, 

 of some 15 or 20 yards in length, and which the Indians throw with great dexterity? 

 with a noose at one end of it, which drops over the head of the animal they wish to 

 catch whilst running at full speed, when the Indian dismounts from his own horse, 

 and holding to the end of the lasso chokes the animal down, and afterwards tames 

 and converts him to his own use. 



Scarcely a man in these regions is to be found who is not the owner of one or more 

 of these horses, and in many instances of eight, ten, or even twenty, which he values 

 as his own personal property. 



The Indians are hard and cruel masters ; and added to their cruelties is the sin, that 

 is familiar in the Christian world, of sporting with the limbs and lives of these noble 

 animals. Horse-racing here, as in all more enlightened communities, is one of the 

 most exciting amusements and one of the most extravagant modes of gambling. 



I have been this day a spectator to scenes of this kind, which have been enacted in 

 abundance, on a course which they have just back of their village; and although I 

 never had the least taste for this cruel amusement in my own country, yet I must say 

 I have been not a little amused and pleased with the thrilling effect which these ex- 

 citing scenes have produced amongst so wild and picturesque a group. 



I have made a sketch of the ground and the group as near as I could (No. 432), 

 showing the manner of starting and coming out, which vary a little from the customs 

 of the known world ; but in other respects I believe a horse race is the same all the 

 world over. — G. C. 



433. Poot-Race, Mandans, on the same ground, and as often run. Painted in 1832, 



Mandan Village, Upper Missouri. 



(See No. 432, herein.) 



434. Canoe Race, Chippeways, in bark canoes, near the Sault de St. Marie; an In- 



dian regatta, a thrilling scene. Painted in 1836. 



(Plate No. 267, page 162, vol. 2, Catlin's Eight Years.) 



In Plate 267 is seen one of their favorite amusements at this place, which I was lucky 

 enough to witness a few miles below the Sault, when high bettings had been made, 

 and a great concourse of Indians had assembled to witness an Indian regatta or canoe 

 race, which went off with great excitement, firing of guns, yelping, &c. The Indians 

 in this vicinity are all Chippeways, and their canoes all made of birch bark, and 

 chiefly of one model; they are exceedingly, light, as I have before described, and 

 propelled with wonderful velocity. — G. C. 



435. Archery of the Mandans. Painted July 3, 1832. # 



(Plate No. 60, page 141, vol. 1, Catlin's Eig*ht Years.) 

 The strife is to prove who can get the greatest number of arrows flying in the air 

 at a time, before the first one reaches the ground. The most of these are portraits 

 closely studied from nature. I have seen some of them get eight arrows in the air at 

 one time. 



From the Mandan village, July, 1832. — This day has been one of unusual mirth and 

 amusement amongst the Mandans, and whether on account of some annual celebration 

 or not, I am as yet unable to say, though I think such is the case ; for these people have 

 many days which, like this, are devoted to festivities and amusements. 



Their lives, however, are lives of idleness and ease, and almost all their days and hours 

 are spent in innocent amusements. Amongst a people who have no office hours to attend 

 to — no professions to study, and of whom but very little time is required in the chase, 

 to supply their families with food, it would be strange if they did not practice many 

 games and amusements, and also become exceedingly expert in them. 

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