THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 335 



the bank and on to her deck, with a, spear in one hand and the calnmet, or pipe of 

 peace, in the other. The moment they stepped on board they met (to tlieir great sur- 

 prise and joy) their old friend, Major Sanford, their agent, which, circumstance put 

 an instant end to all their fears. The villagers were soon apprised of the fact, and the 

 whole race of the beautiful and friendly Mandans was paraded on the bank of the 

 river, in front of the steamer. 



The rain maker, whose apprehensions of a public calamity brought upon the nation 

 "by his extraordinary medicine, had, for the better security of his person from appre- 

 hended vengeance, secreted himself in some secure place, and was the last to come 

 forward, and the last to be convinced that this visitation was a friendly one from the 

 white people ; and that his medicine had not in the least been instrumental in bring- 

 ing it about. This information, though, received by Mm with mucli caution and sus- 

 picion, at length gave him great relief, and quieted Lis mind as to his danger. Yet 

 still in Lis breast there was a rankling thorn, though he escaped the dreaded ven- 

 geance which he had a few moments beforo apprehended as at hand ; as he had the 

 mortification and disgrace of having failed in his mysterious operations. He set up, 

 however (during the day, in his conversation about the strange arrival), his medi- 

 cines, as the cause of its approach; asserting everywhere, and to everybody, that he 

 knew of its coming, and that he had by his magic brought the occurrence about. 

 This plea, however, did not get him much audience ; and, in fact, everything else 

 was pretty much swallowed up in the guttural talk, and bustle, and gossip about the 

 mysteries of the u thunder-boat " ; and so passed the day, until just at the approach 

 of evening, when the White Buffalo's Hair (more watchful of such matters on this 

 occasion than most others) observed that a black cloud had been jutting up in the 

 horizon, and was almost directly over the village. In an instant his shield was on 

 his arm, and his bow in his hand, and he again upon the lodge. Stiffened and braced 

 to the last sinew, he stood, with his face and shield presented to the cloud, and his 

 bow drawn. He drew the eyes of the whole village upon him as ho vaunted forth his 

 superhuman powers, and at the same time commanding the cloud to come nearer, that 

 he might draw down its contents upon the heads and the cornfields of the Mandans. 

 In this wise he stood, waving his shield over his head, stamping his foot and frowning 

 as he drew his bow and threatened the heavens, commanding it to rain — his bow was 

 bent, and the arrow drawn to its head, was sent to the cloud, and he exclaimed, " My 

 friends, it is done ! Wak-a-dah-he-hee ? s arrow has entered that black cloud, and the 

 Mandans will be wet with the water of the skies ! His predictions were true; in a 

 few moments the cloud was over the village, and the rain fell in torrents. He stood 

 for some time wielding his weapons and presenting his shield to the sky, while he 

 boasted of his power and the efficacy of his medicine to those who had been about him, 

 but were now driven to the shelter of their wigwams. He at length finished his 

 vaunts and his threats, and descended from his high place (in which he had been 

 perfectly drenched), prepared to receive the honors and the homage that were due to 

 one so potent in his mysteries, and to receive the style and title of mtdicijie-man. 

 This is one of a hundred different modes in which a man in Indian countries acquires 

 the honorable appellation. 



This man had made it rain, and of course was to receive more than usual honor, as 

 he had done much more than ordinary men could do. All eyes were upon him, and 

 all were ready to admit that he was skilled in the magic art ; and must be so nearly 

 allied to the Great or Evil Spirit, that he must needs be a man of great and powerful 

 influence in the nation, and well entitled to the style of doctor or medicine-man. 



Readers, there are two facts relative to these strange transactions, which are in- 

 fallibly true, and should needs be made known. The first is, that when the Mandans 

 undertake to make it rain, they never fail to succeed, for their ceremonies never stop until 

 rain begins to fall. The second is equally true, and is this — that he who has once 

 made it rain never attempts it again ; his medicine is undoubted ; and on future oc- 

 casions of the kind he stands aloof who has once done it in presence of the whole 



