THE GEOKGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 339 



to pronounce tue Camanches the most extraordinary horsemen that I have seen yet 

 in all my travels, and I doubt very much whether any people in the world can sur- 

 pass them. — G. C. 



488. Camanche War Party, meeting the dragoons, and one of their bravest men 

 advancing to shake hands with Colonel Dodge, with a piece of white buffalo- 

 skin on the point of his lance, on the Mexican frontier, 1835. Painted in 

 1834, on First Dragoon expedition. 



(Plate No. 157, page 53, vol. 2, Catlin's Eight Years.) 



On the fourth day of our march from the mouth of Lake Washita we discovered 

 many fresh signs of buffaloes, and at last immense herds of them grazing on the dis- 

 tant hills. Indian trails were daily growing fresh, and their smokes were seen in 

 various directions ahead of us, and on the same day at noon we discovered a large 

 party at several miles distance, sitting on their horses and looking at us. From the 

 glistening of the blades of their lances, which were blazing as they turned them in 

 the sun, it was at first thought that they were Mexican cavalry, who might have been 

 apprised of our approach into their country, and had advanced to contest the point 

 with us. On drawing a little nearer, however, and scanning them closer with our 

 spy-glasses, they were soon ascertained to be a war party of Camanches, on the look 

 out for their enemies. 



The regiment was called to a halt, and the requisite preparations made and orders 

 issued. We advanced in a direct line towards them until we had approached to 

 within two or three miles of them, when they suddenly disappeared over the hill, and 

 soon after sbowed themselves on another mound farther off and in a different direc- 

 tion. The course of the regiment was then changed, and another advance towards 

 them was commenced, and, as before, they disappeared and showed themselves in an- 

 other direction. After several such efforts, which proved ineffectual, Colonel Dodge 

 ordered the command to halt, while he rode forward with a few of his staff and an 

 ensign carrying a white Hag. I joined this advance, and the Indians stood their 

 ground until we had come within half a mile of them and could distinctly observe 

 all their numbers and movements. We then came to a halt, and the white flag was 

 sent a little in advance and waved as a signal for them to approach, at which one of 

 their party galloped out in advance of the war party, on a milk white horse, carrying 

 a piece of white buffalo-skin on the point of his long lance in reply to our flag. 



This moment was the commencement of one of the most thrilling and beautiful 

 scenes I ever witnessed. All eyes, both from his own party and ours, were fixed upon 

 the maneuvers of this gallant little fellow, and he well knew it. 



The distance between the two parties was perhaps half a mile, and that a beautiful 

 and gently sloping prairie, over which he was for the space of a quarter of an hour 

 reining and spurring his maddened horse, and gradually approaching us by .tacking 

 to the right and the ieft, like a vessel beating against the wind. He at length came 

 prancing and leaping along until he met the flag of the regiment, when he leaned his 

 spear against it, looking the bearer full in the face, when he wheeled his horse, and 

 dashed up to Colonel Dodge (Plate 157, No. 488), with his extended hand, which was 

 instantly grasped and shaken. 



We all had him by the hand in a moment, and the rest of the party seeing him re- 

 ceived in this friendly manner, instead of being sacrificed, as they undoubtedly ex- 

 pected, started under full whip in a direct line towards us, and in a moment gathered, 

 like a black cloud, around us ! The regiment then moved up in regular order, and a 

 general shake of the hand ensued, which was accomplished by each warrior riding 

 along the ranks and shaking the hand of every one as he passed. This necessary 

 form took up considerable time, and during the whole operation my eyes were fixed 

 upon the gallant and wonderful appearance of the little fellow who bore us the white 

 flag on the point of his lance. He rode a fine and spirited w r ild horse, which was as white 

 as the drifted snow, with an exuberant mane, and its long and bushy tail sweeping 



