THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 671 



than we, but to show you how we red people look and act in the wilderness, aud we 

 shall be glad some nights to go and see how the French people dance. (Great ap- 

 plause and ' How, how, how!') 



" My friends, we are happy that the Great Spirit has kept us alive and well, and that 

 wo have been allowed to see the face of our Great Father, your King. We saw him 

 and your good Queen, and the little boy who will be king, and they all treated us with 

 kind hearts, and we feel thankful for it. (' How, how, howl ; ) 



" My friends, we have crossed two oceans to come here, and we have seen no village 

 so beautiful as Paris. London, where the Saganoshes live, is a large village, but their 

 wigwams are not so beautiful as those in Paris, and in their streets there are too many 

 people who seem to be very poor and hungry. (' How, how, how! ') 



"My friends, I have no more to say at present, only, that, when my young men 

 have finished their dances, we shall be glad to shake hands with you all, if you desire 

 it. ( ' How, how, how ! ') " 



The old man resumed his seat and his pipe amidst a din of applause ; and at this 

 moment several trinkets and pieces of money were tossed upon the platform from 

 various parts of the room. 



After the eagle dance they strung their bows, and, slinging their quivers upon their 

 backs, commenced shooting at the target for prizes. The hall in which their dances 

 were given was so immensely large that they had a range of 150 feet to throw their 

 arrows at their targets, which formed by no means the least amusing and exciting 

 part of their exhibitions. Their ball-sticks were also taken in hand, and the ball, 

 and their mode of catching and throwing it beautifully illustrated. After this, and 

 another dance, a general shake of the hands took place, and a promenade of the 

 Indians through the vast space occupied by my collection. They retired from the 

 rooms and the crowd in fine glee, having made their debut in Paris, about which they 

 had had great anxiety, somebody having told them that the French people would not 

 be pleased with their dancing, as they danced so well themselves. 



The Indians being gone, I became the lion, and was asked for in every part of 

 the rooms. The visitors were now examining my numerous works, and all wanted to 

 see me. My friend M. Vattemare was by my side, and kindly presented me to many 

 gentlemen of the press and others of his acquaintance in the rooms. There were so 

 many who said they were waiting "for the honor, " &c, that I was kept until a very 

 late hour before I could leave the room. 



OPINIONS ON THE COLLECTION. 



There were a number of fellow-artists present who took pleasure in complimenting 

 me for the manner in which my paintings were executed, and many others for my per- 

 severance and philanthropy in having labored thus to preserve the memorials of these 

 dying people. I was complimented on all sides, and bowed, and was bowed to, and 

 invited by cards and addresses left for me. So I went home, as well as the Indians, 

 elated with the pleasing conviction that mine was a "hit" as well as theirs.* 



INDIANS AT AN EVENING PARTY IN PARIS. 



The first evening party they were invited to attend in Paris was that of the lady 

 of Mr. Greene, the American banker. They were there ushered into a brilliant blaze 

 of lamps, of beauty, and fashion, composed chiefly of Americans, to whom they felt 

 the peculiar attachment of countrymen, though of a different complexion, and any- 

 where else than across the Atlantic would have been strangers to. 



They were received with great kindness by this polite and excellent lady and her 

 daughters, and made many pleasing acquaintances in her house. The old Doctor had 

 luckily dressed out his head with his red crest, and left at home his huge head-dress 

 of horns and eagles' quills, which would have been exceedingly unhandy in a squeeze, 



+ The artists signed a petition to the Congress of the United States, asking for the purchase of this 

 collection by the nation. 



