THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 691 



INDIANS AT ST. CLOUD. 



The day which had arrived for our visit to the King at St. Cloud was a pleasant one, 

 and all the party being ready, we went off in good spirits; and on our arrival our car- 

 riages were driven into the royal park, and conducted to a lovelj spot on the bank 

 of an artificial lake, where there were a considerable number of persons attached to 

 the court already assembled to see the Indians; and in the lake, at their feet, a beau- 

 tiful birch-bark canoe from their own tribe, belonging to the Duchess of Orleans, and 

 by the side of it an elegant regatta boat, belonging to the Prince de Joinville, with 

 " White Hall" in large letters on her sides, showing that she was a native of New 

 York. 



The Indians had been told that they were to paddle one of their own canoes for the 

 amusement of the royal family, but had not as yet dreamed that they were to contend 

 for speed with a full-manned " White-Haller" in a trial for speed before two kings 

 and two queens and all the royal family. 



Just learning this fact, and seeing the complement of men in bluejackets and tar- 

 paulin hats in readiness for the contest, they felt somewhat alarmed. However, I 

 encouraged them on, and the appearance of the royal family and the King and Queen 

 of the Belgians, in their carriages, at the next moment changed the subject, and their 

 alarms were apparently forgotten. 



Their majesties and all of the two royal families descended from their carriages, and, 

 gathering around the Indians in a group, listened to each one's name as they were in 

 turn presented. 



Louis Philippe and also the King of the Belgians conversed for some time with the 

 chiefs, while her majesty and the other ladies seemed more amused with the women 

 and the little pappoose, in its beautifully embroidered cradle, slung on its mother's 

 back. 



After this conversation and an examination of their costumes, weapons, &c, the 

 targets were placed, and an exhibition of their skill in archery ensued. And after 

 that, taking up their ball-sticks, " the ball was tossed," and they soon illustrated the 

 surprising mode of catching and throwing the ball with their rackets or "ball-sticks." 



This illustration being finished, they sounded the war-whoop, and brandished their 

 shields and tomahawks and war-clubs in the war-dance, which their majesties had 

 expressed a desire to see. 



Every member of the two royal families happened to be present, I was told, on this 

 occasion — a very unusual occurrence — and all had descended from their carriages and 

 grouped in a beautiful lawn to witness the wild sports of these sons of the forest. I 

 was called upon at that moment to explain the meaning of the war-dance, war-song, 

 war-whoop, &c, for doing which I received the thanks of all the party, which gave 

 me peculiar satisfaction. 



INDIAN REGATTA, ST. CLOUD. 



The King at this time announ ced to the chief that he wished to see how they pad- 

 dled the birch canoe, that he had two American canoes, which they had put into the 

 water ; one was a canoe, he said, made of birch-bark by their own tribe, the Ojibbe- 

 ways, and had belonged to his son, the Duke of Orleans ; and the other, now belong- 

 ing to the Prince de Joinville (a White Hall boat), was made in the city of New 

 York; and he was anxious to be able to decide which could make the best canoe, the 

 white men or the Indians. 



The whole party now assembled on the shore, and the sailors and the Indians took 

 their seats in their respective boats, with oars and paddles in hand, and the race soon 

 took place. (Plate 21.) It was a very exciting scene, but it seemed to be regretted 

 by all that the Indians were beaten, but which I think might not have been the case 

 if they had put two in their canoe instead of four, sinking it so deep as to impede its 

 progress ; or if they had put two squaws into it instead of the men, as they are in the 

 Indian country much superior to the men in paddling canoes. 



