THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 403 



6. The brother of Mah-to-toh-pa killed by a Riccaree, who shot him with an arrow, 

 and then running a lance through his body, loft it there. Mah-to-toh-pa was tbe first 

 to find his brother's body with the lance in it ; he drew the lance from the body, kept 

 it four years with the blood dried on its blade, and then, according to bis oath, killed 

 the same Riccaree with the same lance ; the dead body of his brother is here seen with 

 the arrow and lance remaining in it, and the tracks of the Riccaree's horses in front. 



The following was, perhaps, one of the most extraordinary exploits of this remark- 

 able man's life, and is well attested by Mr. Kipp and several white men, who were 

 living in the Mandan village at the time of its occurrence. In a skirmish, near the 

 Mandan village, when they were set upon by their enemies, the Riccarees, the brother 

 of Mah-to-toh-pa was missing for several days, when Mah-to-toh-pa found the body 

 shockingly mangled, and a handsome spear left piercing the body through the heart. 

 The spear was by him brought into the Mandan village, where it was recognized by 

 many as a famous weapon belonging to a noted brave of the Riccarees, by the name 

 of Won-ga-tap. This spear was brandished through the Mandan village by Mah-to- 

 toh-pa (with the blood of his brother dried on its blade), crying most piteously, and 

 swearing that he would some day revenge the death of his brother with the same 

 weapon. 



It is almost an incredible fact, that he kept this spear with great care in his wig- 

 wam for the space of four years, in the fruitless expectation of an opportunity to use 

 it upon the breast of its owner ; when his indignant soul, impatient of further delay, 

 burst forth in the most uncontrollable frenzy and fury, he again brandished it through 

 the village, and said, that the blood of his brother's heart which was seen on its blade 

 was yet fresh, and called loudly for revenge. " Let every Mandan (said he) be silent, 

 and let no one sound the name of Mah-to-toh-pa — let no one ask for him, nor where he 

 has gone, until you hear him sound the war-cry in front of the village, when he will 

 enter it and show you the blood of Won-ga-tap. The blade of this lance shall drink 

 the heart's blood of "Won-ga-tap, or Mah-to-toh-pa mingles his shadow with that of 

 his brother." 



With this he sallied forth from the village, and over the plains, with the lance in his 

 hand ; his direction was towards the Riccaree village, and all eyes were upon him, 

 though none dared to speak till he disappeared over the distant grassy bluff. Ho 

 traveled the distance of 200 miles entirely alone, with a little parched corn in his 

 pouch, making his marches by night, and laying secreted by days, until he reached 

 the Riccaree village, where (being acquainted with its shapes and its habits, and 

 knowing the position of the wigwam of his doomed enemy) he loitered about in dis- 

 guise, mingling himself in the obscure throng ; and at last, silently and alone, ob- 

 served through the rents of the wigwam, the last motions and movements of his 

 victim, as he retired to bed with his wife ; he saw him light his last pipe, and smoke 

 it "to its end" — he saw the last whiff, and saw the last curl of blue smoke that faintly 

 steeped from its bowl — he saw the village awhile in darkness and silence, and the 

 embers that were covered in the middle of the wigwam gone nearly out, and the last 

 nickering light which had been gently playing over them, when he walked softly, 

 but not slyly, into the wigwam and seated himself by the fire, over which was hang- 

 ing a large pot, with a quantity of cooked meat remaining in it, and by the side of 

 the fire, the pipe and tobacco-pouch which had just been used ; and knowing that the 

 twilight of the wigwam was not sufficient to disclose the features of his face to his 

 enemy, he very deliberately turned to the pot and completely satiated the desperate 

 appetite, which he had got in a journey of six or seven days, with little or nothing 

 to eat ; and then, as deliberately, charged and lighted the pipe, and sent Cno doubt, 

 in every whiff that he drew through its stem) a prayer to the Great Spirit for a moment 

 longer for the consummation of his design. Whilst eating and smoking, the wife of 

 his victim, while laying in bed, several times inquired of her husband, what man it 

 was who was eating in their lodge? to which, he as many times repliod, "It's no 

 matter ; let him eat, for he is probably hungry." 



