614 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



a little while and to have some talk with theni, if possible. Daniel had taken this lib- 

 erty, as he had heard Mr. Melody and myself say that we should feel disposed to pro- 

 moters far as we could, all such efforts. The Indians had not yet had their breakfasts, 

 which were nearly ready, and felt a little annoyed; the war chief observing that they 

 had had a long council with some clergymen and had said to them all they had to say, 

 and thought this gentleman had better go and see and talk with them; and another 

 thing, as he believed that Chippehola * had written in a book all that he and the clergy- 

 men had said, he thought he might learn it all by going to him. 



Daniel whispered to him in an earnest manner that ' ' this was a Catholic priest, a dif- 

 ferent kind of religion altogether." This created some little surprise and conversation 

 around the room, that the white people should have two kinds of religion; and it was at 

 last agreed that the war chief and Jeffrey should step into the other room a few min- 

 utes and see him, the White Cloud saying " he did not care about going in." 



It seems that Jeffrey took some interest in this gentleman, as the little that his an- 

 cestors had learned of religion had been taught them by Roman Catholic clergymen, who 

 have been the first to teach the Christian religion in most parts of the American wilder- 

 ness. The conversation and manner of the priest also made some impression on the 

 mind of the war chief; and as they heard the others using their knives and forks in the 

 adjoining room, they took leave of the reverend gentleman, agreeing to a council with 

 him and a number of his friends in a few days. White Cloud and Wash-ka-mon-ya ex- 

 cited much laughter and amusement among the party on learning that the war chiet 

 had appointed another council, " when he was to make his talk all over again." They 

 told him "they expected to take him home a preacher, to preach white man's religion 

 when he got back; " and they thought he had better get a black coat at once, and be 

 called "Black-coat to the party of Ioway Indians." 



TWO METHODIST CLERGYMEN CALL. 



The next day after the above interview Daniel again announced to the chiefs and 

 Jeffrey that there were two reverend gentlemen waiting to see them, who had seen Mr 

 Melody on the subject, and were to meet him there at that hour. White Cloud told the 

 war chief that "as he had promised to meet them, he must do it; but as for himself, he 

 would rather not see them, for he was not well." Wash-ka-mon-ya laughed at the old 

 chief and Jeffrey as they went out. ' ' Now, ' ' said he, ' ' for your grand council ! ' ' The 

 war chief lit his long pipe, and he and Jeffrey entered the room; but finding they were 

 not the persons whom they were expecting to meet, they had a few words of conversation 

 with them, taking care not to approach near to the subject of religion, and left them, as 

 they had some other engagements that took up their time. 



There was much merriment going on in the mean time in the Indians' room, and many 

 jokes ready for the war chief and Jeffrey when they should get back, as Daniel had re- 

 turned to their room, and told them that, by the cut of their clothes and their manners, 

 he was quite sure that these two gentlemen were of a different religion still; he believed 

 they were Methodist preachers. 



The war chief, who was always dignified and contemplative in his manners, and yet 

 susceptible of good humor and jokes, returned to the Indians' room at this time, appar- . 

 ently quite insensible to the mirth and the remarks around him, as he learned from the 

 Indians, and got the confirmation from Daniel, that this was the third kind of religion, 

 and that there were the Baptists, the Jews, and several other kinds yet to come. He 

 seated himself on his robe, which he spread upon the floor, and taking out of his pouch 

 his flint and steel and spunk, struck a light in the true Indian way (though there was 

 fire within reach of his arm), and, lighting his pipe, commenced smoking. During this 

 silent operation he seemed downcast and in profound meditation. Mr. Melody and I en- 

 tered the room at this moment, but seeing the mood he was in, did nothing to interrupt 



*The author. 



