THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 321 



for when ho takes Lis stand lie expects to face the sun, and gradually turn bis body 

 in listless silence till bo sees it go down at nigbt ; and if be faints and falls, of which 

 there is imminent danger, be loses bis reputation as a brave or mystery man, and 

 suifers a signal disgrace in the estimation of the tribe, like all men who have the pre- 

 sumption to set themselves up for brave or mystery men and fail justly to sustain 

 the character. — G. C. 



461. Dragoons on the march, and a band of buffalo breaking through their ranks. 



Painted in 1834, on march of First Dragoons, Colonel Dodge, on the Wash- 

 ita. 



(Plate No. 158, page 57, vol. 2, Catlin's Eight Years.) 



During this march over one of the most lovely and picturesque countries in the 

 world [from Fort Gibson to base of Rocky Mountains, 1834] we had enough continu- 

 ally to amuse and excite us. The whole couutry seemed at times to be alive with 

 buffaloes and bands of wild horses. 



We had with us about thirty Osage and Cberokee, Seneca and Delaware Indians, 

 employed as guides and hunters for the regiment; and with the war party of ninety 

 or a hundred Camanches we formed a most picturesque appearance while passing 

 over the green fields, and consequently caused sad havoc amongst the herds of buffa- 

 loes, which we were almost hourly passing. We were now out of the influence and 

 reach of breadstuff's and subsisted ourselves on buffaloe's meat altogether ; and the 

 Indians of the different tribes, emulous to show their skill in the chase, and prove the 

 mettle of their horses, took infinite pleasure in dashing into every herd that we ap- 

 proached ; by which means the regiment was abundantly supplied from day to day 

 with fresh meat. 



In one of those spirited scenes when the regiment were on the march, and the In- 

 dians with their bows and arrows were closely plying a band of these affrighted .ani- 

 mals, they made a bolt through the line of the dragoons, and a complete breach, 

 through which the whole herd passed, upsetting horses and riders in the most amus- 

 ing manner (No. 461) and receiving such shots as came from those guns and pistols 

 that were aimed and not fired off into the empty air. — G. C. 



462. Prairie Dog Village. — Myriads of the curious little animals sometimes are 



found in one village, which will extend several miles. The animals are 

 about twice the size of a rat, and not unlike it in appearance and many of 

 their habits. They dig boles in the ground, and the dirt which is thrown 

 up makes a little mound, on which they sit and bark when danger ap- 

 proaches. They feed upon the grass, which is their only food. Painted on 

 voyage to Upper Missouri, 1832. 



(Plate No. 42, page 76, vol. 1, Catlin's Eight Years.) 

 On Sunday departed from our encampment in the Grand Devour, and, having passed 

 for many miles through a series of winding and ever- varying bluffs and fancied ruins, 

 like such as has already been described, our attention was more than usually excited 

 by the stupendous scene called by the voyagers u the Grand Dome," which was lying 

 in full view before us. 



Our canoe was here hauled ashore, and a day whiled away again among these 

 clay-built ruins. t 



We clambered to their summits and enjoyed the distant view of the Missouri for 

 many miles below wending its way through the countless groups of clay and grass- 

 covered hills, and we wandered back on the plains in a toilsome and unsuccessful 

 pursuit of a herd of buffaloes, which we discovered at some distance. Though we 

 were disappointed in the results of the chase, yet we were in a measure repaid in 

 amusements, which we found in paying a visit to an extensive village of prairie dogs, 

 and of which I should render some account. * * * 

 Their habits are one and the same wherever found ; their bouses or burrows 

 G744 21 



