THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 399 



would seem, he has endeavored to set up his claims to the reputation of a warrior with 

 the heads of seven victims, which he professes to have slain in battle. On the sides 

 there are numerous figures, very curiously denoting his profession, where he is vomit- 

 ing and purging his patients with herbs ; where, also, he has represented his med- 

 icine or totem, the bear, and also the rising of the sun and the different phases of the 

 moon, which these magicians look to with great dependence for the operation of 

 their charms and mysteries in effecting the cure of their patients. 

 ' In Plate 310 is a further exemplification of symbolic representations, as well as of 

 the state of the arts of drawing and design amongst these rude people. This curious 

 chart is a, facsimile copy of an Indian song, which was drawn on a piece of birch bark 

 about twice the size of the plate and used by the Chippeways preparatory to a med- 

 icine hunt, as they term it. For the bear, the moose, the beaver, and nearly every 

 animal they hunt for, they have certain seasons to commence, and previous to which 

 they "make medicine" for several days, to conciliate the bear (or other) spirit, to in- 

 sure a successful season. For this purpose these doctors, who are the only persons, 

 generally, who are initiated into these profound secrets, sing forth, with the beat of 

 the drum, the songs which are written in characters on these charts, in which all 

 dance and join in the chorus, although they are generally as ignorant of the transla- 

 tion and meaning of the song as a mere passing traveler, and which they have no 

 means of learning, except by extraordinary claims upon the tribe for their services as 

 warriors and hunters, and then by an extraordinary fee to be given to the mystery- 

 men, who alone can reveal them, and that under the most profound injunctions of 

 secrecy. I was not initiated far enough in this tribe to explain the mysteries that 

 are hidden on this little chart, though I heard it sung over, and listened (I am sure) 

 at least one hour before they had sung it all. 



Of these kinds of symbolic writings and totems, such as are given in Plate 311, re- 

 corded on rocks and trees in the country, a volume might be filled; and, from the 

 knowledge which I have been able to obtain of them, I doubt whether I should be able 

 to give with them all much additional information to that which I have briefly given 

 iu these few simple instances. Their picture-writing, which is found on their robes, 

 their wigwams, and different parts of their dress, is also voluminous and various, and 

 can be best studied by the curious on the numerous articles in the museum, where 

 they have the additional interest of having been traced by the Indian's own hand. 



In Plate 312 is also a facsimile of a Mandan robe, with a representation of the sun 

 most wonderfully painted upon it. This curious robe, which was a present from an 

 esteemed friend of mine amongst those unfortunate people, is now in my collection, 

 where it may speak for itself, after this brief introduction. — Pages 246-248, vol. 2, 

 Catlin's Eight Years. 



DRESS AND ROBE OF MAH-TO-TOH-PA, A MANDAN CHIEF. 



Mr. Catlin, in his letter JSTo. 21 from the Mandan village July or Au- 

 gust, 1832, gives on pages 145-159 a description of the dress of the above 

 chief (picture No. 128). He presented Mr. Catlin with a robe which he 

 wore when painted, containing in color the story of his life or military 

 history. The dress of Mah-to-toh-pa and this robe were destroyed by 

 fire and water at Philadelphia before the Catlin collection came into the 

 charge of the Smithsonian Institution. 



The dress and robe were shown on a lay figure of Mah-to-toh-pa (No. 

 611) of this catalogue, which was exhibited in the Catlin gallery. As 

 all were destroyed, the reproduction of it will be of interest, and also 

 will furnish a fine example of a quite usual manner of perpetuating indi- 

 vidual history amongst the American Indians of the plains. 



