340 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



the ground. In his hand he tightly drew the reins upon a heavy Spanish bit, and at 

 every jump plunged into the animal's sides, till they were in a gore of blood, a huge 

 pair of spurs, plundered, no doubt, from the Spaniards in their border wars, which 

 are continually waged on the Mexican frontiers. The eyes of this noble little steed 

 seemed to be squeezed out of its head ; and its fright and its agitation had brought 

 out upon its skin a perspiration that was fretted into a white foam and lather. The 

 warrior's quiver was slung on the warrior's back, and his bow grasped in his left 

 hand, ready for instant use, if called for. His shield was on his arm, and across his 

 thigh, in a beautiful cover of buckskin, his gun was slung — and in his right hand his 

 lance of 14 feet in length. 



Thus armed and equipped was this dashing cavalier, and nearly in the same man- 

 ner all the rest of the party ; and very many of them leading an extra horse, which 

 we soon learned was the favorite war-horse ; and from which circumstances alto- 

 gether we soon understood that they were a war-party in search of their enemy. 



After a shake of the hand we dismounted, and the pipe was lit and passed around. 

 And then a " talk" was held, in which we were aided by a Spaniard we luckily had 

 with us who could converse with one of the Camanches, who spoke some Spanish. 



Colonel Dodge explained to them the friendly motives with which we were pene- 

 trating their country, that we were sent by the President to reach their villages ; to 

 see the chiefs of the Camanches and Pawnee Picts, to shake hands with them, and to 

 smoke the pipe of peace, and to establish an acquaintance, and consequently a system 

 of trade that would be beneficial to both. — G. C. 



The Camanches afterwards abandoned their war expedition and conducted Colo- 

 nel Dodge and his command to their village. (See No. 353.) 



489. An Indian wedding, Assinaboine ; young man making presents to the father 



of the girl. Painted in 1832. 

 (No plate.) 



490. Crow at his toilet, oiling his long hair with bear's grease. Painted 1832. 



(No plate. ) 



491. Crow Lodge, of twenty-five buffalo-skins, beautifully ornamented. 



This splendid lodge, with all its i>oles and furniture, was brought from the foot of 

 the Rocky Mountains. 



This lodge is now in the National Museum. Mr. Catlin procured it in 

 1832 and took it to Europe. He thus describes it : 



A CROW LODGE OR WIGWAM. 



A very splendid thing, brought from the foot of the Rocky Mountains, 25 feet in 

 height, made of buffalo-skins, garnished and painted. The poles (thirty in number) 

 of pine, cut in the Rocky Mountains, have been long in use, were purchased with the 

 lodge, and brought the whole distance. This wigwam stands in the middle of the 

 gallery, and will shelter eighty or more persons. 



This was brought back to the United States by Mr. Harrison in 

 1852-'53. In the plate showing the gallery, page 8, hereiu, a view of 

 this wigwam is given. 



492. Pawnee Lodge, thatched with prairie grass, in form of a straw beehive. Painted 



in 1834. 



(No plate.) 



(See also No. 343, herein, great Pawnee village.) 



493. Camanche Lodge, of buffalo-skins. Painted in 1834. 



(No plate.) 



(See also No. 34G, herein, Great Camanchee village.) 



