624 THE GEOEGE CATLIN INDIAN GALBERY. 



INDIANS VISIT EALING PARK. 



One of the very high compliments paid them from the fashionable world was now be- 

 fore them, and this being the day for it, all parties were dressing and painting for the 

 occasion. I had received a very kind note from Mrs. Lawrence, inviting me to bring 

 them to pay her a visit in her lovely grounds at Ealing Park, a few miles from the city 

 of London. The omnibus was ready, and being seated, we were there within an hour's 

 drive, and received on the fine lawn in the rear of her house. Here -was presented the 

 most beautiful scene which the Ioways helped toembelish whilst they were in the king- 

 dom — for nothing more sweet can be seen than this little paradise, hemmed in with the 

 richness and wildnessof its surrounding foliage, and its velvet carpet of green on which 

 the Indians were standing and reclining, and the kind lady and her royal and noble 

 guests, collected in groups, to witness their dances and other amusements. Their Royal 

 Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, with the lovely Princess Mary, the 

 Hereditary Grand Duke and Duchess of Mecklenburg Strelitz, the Duchess of Gloucester, 

 and many of the nobility, formed the party of her friends whom this lady had invited, 

 and who soon entered the lawn to meet these sons of the forest, and witness their wild 

 sports. 



RECEPTION AT EALING PARK. 



At the approach of the lady and her royal party, the Indians all arose, and the chiefs 

 having been introduced, half an hour or more was passed in a conversation with them, 

 through Jeffrey and myself, and an examination of ther costumes, weapons, &c, when 

 they seated themselves in a circle, and passing the pipe around, were preparing for a 

 dance. The first they selected was their favorite, the eagle-dance, which they gave with 

 great spirit, and my explanation of the meaning of it seemed to add much to its inter- 

 est. After the dance they strung their bows and practiced at the target, and at length 

 Mr. Melody tossed up the ball, when they snatched up their ball-sticks, which they had 

 brought for the purpose, and darted over and about the grounds in the exciting game of 

 the ball. This proved more amusing to the spectators than either of the former exer- 

 cises, but it was short, for they soon lost their ball, and the game being completed, they 

 seated themselves again, and with the pipe were preparing for the war-dance, in which, 

 when they gave it, the beautiful lawn and the forests around it, resounded with the 

 shrill notes of the war-whoop, which the frightened parroquets and cockatoos saucily 

 echoed back with a laughable effect and a tolerable exactness. The pipe of peace (or 

 calumet) dance was also given, with the pipes of peace in their hands, which they had 

 brought out for the purpose. 



ROAST BEEF AND PLUM PUDDING. 



While these exciting scenes were going on the butler was busy spreading a white cloth 

 over a long table arranged on the lawn, near the house, and on it the luxuries that had 

 been preparing in the kitchen for their dinners. This arrangement was so timed that 

 the roast beef was on and smoking just when their amusements were finished, and when 

 the announcement was made that their "dinner was up," all parties moved in that di- 

 rection, but in two divisions, the one to partake and the other to look on and see how 

 wild people could handle the knife and fork. This was to be the last, though (as I could 

 see by the anxiety of the spectators) not the least amusing, of their amusements, and it 

 was in the event rendered peculiarly so to some of us, from the various parts which the 

 kind and illustrious spectators were enabled to take in it, when in all their former amuse- 

 ments there was no possible way in which they could " lend a hand. ' ' Every one could 

 here assist in placing a chair or handing a plate, and the Indians being seated, all were 

 ready and emulous, standing around the table and at their elbows, to perform some 

 little office of the kind, to assist them to eat, and to make them comfortable. His royal 

 highness proposed that I should take my stand at the head of the table, before a huge 



