578 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



was propelled or drawn, and at the first station I stepped out with them and to: ward 

 to the locomotive, where I explained the power which pulled us along. They at once 

 instituted for the engine the appellation of the " iron horse," and at our next stopping- 

 place, which was one where the engine was taking in water, they all leaped out " to 

 see the iron horse drink." 



Their songs and yells set at least a thousand dogs harking and howling on the way, 

 and, as we camo under the station at Birmingham, called up a fat old gentleman, who 

 opened our door and very knowingly exclaimed, " What the devil have you got here ? 

 Some more of them damned grizzly hears, have you V He was soon merged in the 

 crowd that gathered around us. and, with doors closed, the Indians sat out patiently 

 the interval until we were under way again. 



THE INDIANS AT LONDON. 



Arrived at the Euston Station, in London, an omnibus conveyed them suddenly to 

 apartments in George street, which had been prepared for them. They were highly 

 excited when they entered their rooms, talking about the Queen, whom they believed 

 had just passed in her carriage, from seeing two footmen with gold-laced hats and red 

 breeches and white stockings standing up aud riding on a carriage behind, with large 

 gold-headed caues in their hands; it proved, however, to have been the carriage of 



Lady S n, familiarly known in that neighborhood; and the poor fellows seemed 



wofully disappointed at this informal ion. 



The good landlady, who took a glance of them as they came in, was becoming 

 alarmed at the bargain she had made lor the rooms, and came to Mr. Rankin, expressing 

 her fears that the arrangement would never answer for her, as "she did not expect 

 such wild, black-looking savages from the Indies." Mr. Rankin assured her that 

 they were quits harmless, and much more of gentlemen than many white men she 

 might get in her house, and he would be responsible for all damage that they would 

 ever do (o her property, even if she left the whole of it unsecured by lock and key. 

 So she said she would venture to try them for a week, and see how they behaved. 

 They were now in the midst of the great city of London, which they had been so anx- 

 ious to see; and, upon putting their heads out of the windows to take a first peep, 

 the smoke was so dense that they could see but a few rods, when they declared that 

 the " prairies must be on fire again." 



Daniel was at this time remaining in Manchester to take down and bring on my 

 collection, which it was agreed should be reopened in London. I was busy effecting 

 a new arrangement for the Egyptian Hall, which I took for six months, and in a few 

 days my collection was being replaced upon its walls. 



VISITORS TO THE INDIANS IN LONDON. 



The first visitor who came to see the party, and to wish them success in London, 

 was my excellent friend the Hon. C. A. Murray, who was much pleased with them, 

 and, learning their desire to gain an audience of Her Majesty, he proposed, as the 

 surest way to bring it about, that his royal highness the Duke of Cambridge should 

 have an interview with them first, and then it would be easy to get Her Majesty to 

 see them. This plan was agreed to, and the next day Mr. Murray addressed me a 

 nolo saying that the duke would meet them the next morniug in the Queen's draw- 

 ing-room, Hanover square concert-rooms. I immediately made the arrangement with 

 the proprietor of the rooms, and at the appointed hour the next morning was there 

 with them, and met his royal highness the Duke of Cambridge, with the Hon. Mr. 

 Murray and Baron Kuesebeck, in attendance. The duke met them in the most fa- 

 miliar and cordial manner, offering them his hand, and smoking the Indiau pipe with 

 them. He conversed a great deal wtih them through their interpreter, Cadotte ; and, 

 after closely examining their costumes, weapons, &c, took a seat to see them dance. 



