THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 623 



"All the medicine-men (said he) in the Indian country have known for many years 

 how to do the same thing, and what the white people know of it at this time they have 

 learned from the Indians; but I see that they don't yet half know how to do it; that he 

 had brought a medicine dress all the way with him for the very purpose, and if the 

 mesmeriser would come the next morning at 9 o'clock, he should see him with it on, 

 and he would engage to frighten any white lady to sleep in five minutes who would take 

 a good look at him without winking or laughing." The mesmeriser did not come, 

 though the doctor was on the spot and ready. 



INDIANS SEE THE QUEEN. 



An event which they had long been looking for with great solicitude took place about 

 this time — the prorogation of Parliament, which afforded the poor fellows their only 

 opportunity of seeing the queen. They were driven off in good season in their bus, and 

 succeeded in getting the most favorable view of the queen and the prince as they were 

 passing in the state-carriage ; and, to use their own words for it, ' ' The little queen and the 

 prince both put their faces quite out of their carriage of gold to look at us and bow to 

 us. ' ' There is no doubt but by the kindness of the police they were indulged in a favora- 

 ble position and had a very satisfactory view of her majesty the queen, and it is equally 

 certain that they will never cease to speak of the splendor of the effect of the grand 

 pageant as long as they live. 



INDIANS ON LOED'S CEICKET GEOUNDS. 



The nightly excitements and amusements going on at the Egyptain Hall were increas- 

 ing the public anxiety to see these curious people more at large, and we resolved to 

 procure some suitable ground for the purpose, where their active limbs could be seen 

 in full motion in the open air, as they are seen on their native prairies with their ball- 

 sticks, in their favorite game of the ball, and the use of their bows and arrows, all of 

 which they had brought with them, but could not use in their amusements at the hall. 

 Their dances, &c, were, however, to be kept up as usual at night; and for their after- 

 noon exercises in the open air an arrangement was made for the use of "Lord's Cricket 

 Ground, ' ' and on that beautiful field (prairie, as they called it) they amused thousands 

 daily by their dances, archery, and ball-playing.* For this purpose an area of an acre 

 or two was inclosed by a rope, and protected for their amusements by the police. To 

 this the visitors advanced on every side, and seemed delighted with their rude appearance 

 and native sports. This arrangement afforded the Indians the opportunity of showing 

 their games and amusements to the greatest advantage, and also of meeting again the 

 acquaintances they had made at the Egyptian Hall, and shaking hands with all who felt 

 disposed to do them that honor. They had also brought with them, to illustrate the 

 whole of Indian life, no less than three tents (wigwams) made of buffalo hides, curiously 

 but rudely painted, which the squaws daily erected on the ground, in presence of the 

 spectators, forming by no means the least accurate and pleasing part of the exhibition. 



* This is, undoubtedly, the favorite and most manly and exciting game of the North American In- 

 dians, and often played, by three or four hundred on a side, who venture their horses, robes, 

 weapons, and even the very clothes upon their backs on the issue of the game. For this beautiful 

 game two byes or goals are established, at three or four hundred yards from each other, by erect- 

 ing two poles in the ground for each, 4 or 5 feet apart, between which it is the strife of either 

 party to force the ball (it having been thrown up at a point half-way between) by catching it in a 

 little hoop, or racket, at the end of a stick, 3 feet in length, held in both hands as they run, throw- 

 ing the ball an immense distance when they get it in the stick. This game is always played over an 

 extensive prairie or meadow, and the confusion and laughable scrambles for the ball when it is fall- 

 ing, and often sought for by two or three hundred gathered to a focus, are curious and amusing 

 beyond the rpach of any description or painting. 



