THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 319 



ing them on. Their bows are bent upon each other and their missies flying, whilst 

 they are dodging and fending them off. 



If any one is struck with an arrow on any vital part of his body, he is obliged to 

 fall, and his adversary rushes up to him, places his foot upon him, and snatching from 

 his belt his wooden knife, grasps hold of his victim's scalp-lock of grass, and making 

 a feint at it with his wooden knife, twitches it off and puts it into his belt, and enters 

 again into the ranks and front of battle. 



This mode of training generally lasts an hour or more in the morning, and is per- 

 formed on an empty stomach, affording them a rigid and wholesome exercise, whilst 

 they are instructed in the important science of war. Some five or six miles of ground 

 are run over during these evolutions, giving suppleness to their limbs and strength 

 to their muscles, which last and benefit them through life. 



After this exciting exhibition is ended, they all return to their village, where the 

 chiefs and braves pay profound attention to their vaunting, and applaud them for their 

 artifice and valor. — G. C. 



456. Sham Scalp Dance ; by the Mandan boys, danced in the village when they 



come in (from the Sham Fight No. 455 above), in honor of a sham victory. 



Painted in 1832, at Mandau village. (No plate.) 

 Those who have taken scalps (No. 455) then step forward, brandishing them and 

 making their boast as they enter into the Scalp dance (in which they are also in- 

 structed by their leaders or teachers), jumping and yelling, brandishing their scalps, 

 and reciting their sanguinary deeds, to the great astonishment of their tender-aged 

 sweethearts who are gazing with wonder upon them. 



457. War Dance of the Sioux. (Painted in 1832. No plate.) 



Each warrior, in turn, jumps through the fire, and then advances shouting and 

 boasting, and taking his oath, as he " strikes the reddened post." 



458. Foot War Party in Council, Mandan. Stopping to rest and take a smoke; 



chief with a war-eagle head-dress on ; their shields and weapons lying on 

 the ground behind them. Painted in 1832. 



(Plate No. 63, page 143, vol. 1, Catlin's Eight Years.) 



Mandan village, summer of 1832. — Many have been the amusements of this day to 

 which I have been an eye-witness ; I have learned the cause of this unusual expression 

 of hilarity and mirth, which was no more nor less than the safe return of a small war 

 party, who had been so long out without any tidings having been received of them 

 that they had long since been looked upon as sacrificed to the fates of war and lost. 

 This party was made up of the most distinguished and desperate young men of the 

 tribe, who had sallied out against the Riccarees, and taken the most solemn oath 

 among themselves never to return without achieving a victory. They had wandered 

 long and faithfully about the country, following the trails of their enemy ; when they 

 were attacked by a numerous party and lost several of their men and all their horses. 

 In this condition, to evade the scrutiny of their enemy, who were closely investing 

 the natural route to their village, they took a circuitous range of the country to ena- 

 ble them to return with their lives to their village. 



In this plight, it seems, I had dropped my little canoe alongside of them, while de- 

 scending from the month of Yellowstone to this place, not many weeks since, where 

 they had bivouacked or halted to smoke and consult on the best and safest mode of 

 procedure. At the time of meeting them, not knowing anything of their language, 

 they were unable to communicate their condition to me, and more probably were 

 afraid to do so even if they could have done it, from apprehension that we might have 

 given some account of them to their enemies. I rested my canoe an hour or so with 

 them, during which time they treated us with an indifferent reserve, yet respectfully, 



