THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 365 



speech, extended in the same way the forefinger of the same hand, and that, too, was 



struck off, leaving on the hand only the two middle fingers and the thnmb, all which 



i they deem absolutely essential for holding the how, the only weapon for the left hand. 



One would think that this mutilation had thus been carried quite far enough; but 

 I have since examined several of the head chiefs and dignitaries of the tribe, who 

 have also given, in this manner, the little finger of the right hand, which is con- 

 sidered by them to be a much greater sacrifice than both of the others; and I have 

 found also a number of their most famous men, who furnish me incontestable proof, 

 by five or six corresponding scars on each arm, and each breast, and each leg, that 

 they had so many times in their lives submitted to this almost incredible operation, 

 which seems to be optional with them ; and the oftener they volunteer to go through 

 it the more famous they become in the estimation of their tribe. 



No bandages are applied to the fingers which have been amputated; no arteries 

 taken up ; nor is any attention whatever paid to them or the other wounds ; but they 

 are left (as they say) ''for the Great Spirit to cure, who will surely take good care 

 of them." It is a remarkable fact, which I learned from a close inspection of their 

 wounds from day to day, that the bleeding is but very slight and soon ceases, probably 

 from the fact of their extreme exhaustion and debility, caused by want of sustenance 

 and sleep, which checks the natural circulation, and admirably at the same time pre- 

 pares them to meet the severity of these tortures without the same degree of sensi- 

 bility and paiu which, under other circumstances, might result in inflammation and 

 death. 



THE STOUTEST HEARTED DESIGNATED, AND HIS REWARD. 



During the whole of the time of this cruel part of these most extraordinary inflic- 

 tions the chiefs and dignitaries of the tribe are looking on, to decide who are the 

 hardiest and stoutest hearted — who can hang the longest by his flesh before he faints, 

 and who will be soonest up, after he has been down — that they may know whom to 

 appoint to lead a war party, or place at the most honorable and desperate post. The 

 four old men are incessantly beating upon the sacks of water and singing the whole 

 time, with their voices strained to the highest key, vaunting forth, for the encourage- 

 ment of the young men, the power and efficacy of the medicine-pipe, which has dis- 

 armed the monster Olcee-hee-de (or Evil Spirit), and driven him from the village, and 

 will be sure to protect them aud watch over them through their present severe trial. 



LED OUT OF THE MEDICINE LODGE FOR ADDITIONAL TORTURE. 



As soon as six or eight had passed the ordeal as above described, they were led out 

 of the lodge, with their weights hanging to their flesh, and dragging on the ground, 

 to undergo another and a still more appalling mode of suffering, in the center of the 

 village, and in presence of the whole nation, in the manner as follows : 



The signal for the commencement of this part of the cruelties was given by the old 

 master of ceremonies, who again ran out as in the buffalo-dance, and leaning against 

 the big canoe with his medicine-pipe in his hand began to cry. This was done sev- 

 eral times in the afternoon, as often as there were six or eight who had passed the 

 ordeal just described within the lodge, who were then taken out in the open area, in 

 the presence of the whole village, with the buffalo skulls and other weights attached 

 to their flesh and dragging on the ground. There were then in readiness and pre- 

 pared for the purpose about twenty young men, selected of equal height and equal 

 age, with their bodies chiefly naked, with beautiful (and similar) head-dresses of war 

 eagles' quills on their heads, and a wreath made of willow boughs held in the hands 

 between them, connecting them in a chain or circle, in which they ran around the big 

 canoe with all possible speed, raising their voices in screams and yelps to the highest 

 pitch that was possible, and keeping the curb or big canoo in the center as their 

 uucleus. 



