THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 501 



Des Moines. The whole country that we passed over was like a garden, wanting only- 

 cultivation, being mostly prairie, and we found their village beautifully situated on a 

 large prairie on the banks of the Des Moines River.* They seemed to be well sup- 

 plied with the necessaries of life, and with some of its luxuries. I found Ke-o-kuk 

 to be a chief of fine and portly figure, with a good countenance, and great dignity 

 and grace in his manners. 



He expressed a wish to see himself represented on horseback, and I painted him in 

 that plight. 



Of this interesting interview and its incidents, and of these people, I shall soon 

 give the reader a further account, and therefore close my note-book for the present. 

 Adieu.— Pages 149, 150, vol. 2, Catlin's Eight Years. 



Mr. Catlin painted several of the pictures included in Nos. 1-16, 

 herein, at this visit. 



In September, 1836, Mr. Catlin saw the Sac and Fox again at Kock 

 Island, and painted many of their games and amusements as well as 

 portraits. (See pages 207-217, vol. 2, Catlin's Eight Years.) 



SUMMARY OP HIS WORK IN 1835. 



Mr. Catlin writes from Saint Louis in the winter of 1835 of his year's 

 work: 



[Letter from Saint Louis, 1835.] 



It will be seen by the heading of this letter that I am back again to " head- 

 quarters," where I have joined my wife, and, being seated down by a comfortable 

 fire, am to take a little retrospect of my rambles from the time of my last epistle. 



JOE CHADWICK. 



The return to the society of old friends again has been delightful, and amongst 

 those whom I more than esteem I have met my kind and faithful friend, Joe Chad- 

 wick, whom I have often mentioned as my companion in distress whilst on that dis- 

 astrous campaign amongst the Camanchees. Joe and I have taken great pleasure in 

 talking over the many curious scenes we have passed together, many of which are as 

 yet unknown to others than ourselves. We had been separated for nearly two years, 

 and during that time I had passed many curious scenes worthy of Joe's knowing, and, 

 while he sat down in the chair for a portrait I painted of him to send to his mother, 

 on leaving the States to take an appointment from Governor Houston in the Texan 

 army, I related to him one or two of my recent incidents, which were as follows, and 

 pleased Joe exceedingly : 



A RIVER ACCIDENT. 



"After I had paddled my bark canoe through the rapids, with my wife and others 

 in it, as I mentioned, and had put them on board a steamer for Saint Louis, I dragged 

 my canoe up the east shore of the rapids, with a line, for a distance of 4 miles, 

 when I stopped and spent half of the day in collecting some very interesting minerals, 

 which I had in the bottom of my canoe, and ready to get on the first steamer passing 

 up, to take me again to Camp Des Moines, at the head of the rapids. 



"I was sitting on a wild and wooded shore, and waiting, when I at length discovered 

 a steamer several miles below me, advancing through the rapids, and in the interim I 

 set to and cleaned my fowling-piece and a noble pair of pistols, which I had carried in 

 a belt at my side through my buffalo and other sports of the West, and having put them 

 in fine order and deposited them in the bottom of the canoe before me, and taken my 

 paddle in hand, with which my long practice had given me unlimited confidence, I put 



*For his meeting -with Keokuk seo No. 1, herein. 



