THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 665 



of their hands, and afterwards by expressions of their pleasure and admiration, con- 

 veyed to them through the interpreter. 



This was exceedingly gratifying to the poor fellows, who were now seated upon the 

 floor to rest a moment previous to commencing with the war-dance, for which they 

 were preparing their weapons, and in which the Little Wolf was to take the lead. 

 For this, as the drum heat, he threw aside his buffalo robe and sprang upon the floor, 

 brandishing his tomahawk and shield, and sounding the frightful war-whoop, which 

 called his warriors up around him. Nothing could have been more thrilling or pic- 

 turesque than the scene at that moment presented of this huge and terrible looking 

 warrior, frowning death and destruction on his brow, as he brandished the very 

 weapons ho had used in deadly combat, and, in his jumps and sudden starts, seemed 

 threatening with instant use again. The floors and ceilings of the palace shook with 

 the weight of their steps, and its long halls echoed and vibrated the shrill-sounding 

 notes of the war-whoop. 



LITTLE WOLF'S SPEECH TO THE KING. 



In the midst of this dance, the Little Wolf suddenly brandished his tomahawk over 

 the heads of his comrades, and, ordering them to stop, advanced towards the King, 

 and boasting in the most violent exclamations of the manner in which he had killed 

 and scalped a Pawnee warrior, placed in his Majesty's hands his tomahawk and the 

 whip which was attached to his wrist, and then said : 



" My Great Father, you have heard me say that with that tomaliawk I have killed 

 a Pawnee warrior, one of the enemies of my tribe ; the blade of that tomahawk is 

 still covered with his blood, which you will see. That whip is the same with which 

 I whipped my horse on that occasion. 



"My Father, since I have come into this country I have learned that peace is better 

 than war, and I ' bury the tomahawk ' in your hands ; I light no more." 



His Majesty deigned graciously to accept the arms thus presented, after having 

 cordially shaken the hand of the Ioway brave. 



Their Majesties and attendants then withdrew, taking leave of the Indians in the 

 most gracious and condescending manner, expressing their thanks forthe amusement 

 they had afforded them, and their anxiety for their welfare, directing them to be shown 

 into the various apartments of the palace, and then to be conducted to a table of wine 

 and other refreshments prepared for them. 



"VIVE LE ROl!" BY THE INDIANS. 



We were now in charge of an officer of the household, who politely led us through 

 the various magnificent halls of the palace, explaining everything as we passed, and 

 at length introduced us into a room with a long table spread and groaning under its 

 load of the luxuries of the season, and its abundance of the u Queen's ehickabobboo.' n 

 These were subjects that required no explanations; and all being seated, each one 

 evinced his familiarity with them by the readiness with which he went to work. The 

 healths of the King and the Queen were drank, and also of the Count de Paris, and the 

 rest of the royal family. The chickabobboo they pronounced " first rate ;" and another 

 bottle being poured it was drank off, and we took our carriages, and, after a drive of 

 an hour or so about the city, were landed again in our comparatively humble, but 

 very comfortable, apartments. 



Thus musing and moralizing on the events of the day, I left them to their conver- 

 sation and their pipe, to attend myself where my presence was necessary, in arrang- 

 ing my collection, and preparing my rooms for their exhibitions. In this I had a real 

 task — a scene of vexation and delay that I should wish never to go through again, 

 and of which a brief account may be of service to any one of my countrymen who 

 may be going to Paris to open a public exhibition ; at least, my hints will enable him, 



