With closed doors we went through all the peculiar solemnities of this feast; and, having devoured all the ducks, leaving "none for the poor women," the medicine man took about a quarter of an hour to recite a sort of prayer or thanks to the Great Spirit, which, from the extreme rapidity with which he repeated it, I supposed to be some established form peculiar to such occasions. After this, and while the last pipe was passing around, my man Daniel (in pursuance of my previous instructions) entered the room, and delivered to me a large letter, which he said he thought was from Mr. Murray, as it had the household stamp upon it. The most impatient excitement prevailed until I broke the seal and read as follows:-- "Buckingham Palace, Thursday morning. "Dear Sir,--I have great pleasure in informing you that Her Majesty has expressed a desire to see the party of Ojibbeway Indians; and has appointed Thursday next, at two o'clock, as the hour when she will receive you with the party, in the Waterloo Gallery, Windsor Castle. I pray that you will be punctual at the hour, and I will meet you at the threshold, rendering all the facilities that may be in my power. "Yours, sincerely, "C. A. MURRAY, "_Master of H. M. Household._ "_To Geo. Catlin, Esq._" The reader can readily imagine what was the _pleasure_ of these poor people when they heard this letter read; but it would be difficult to know what were their feelings of _surprise_, that the efficacy of their _medicine_ should have brought it in at that opportune moment. The reader will also suppose, what their superstition prevented them from ever imagining, that this letter was in my pocket several hours before the ducks were bought, and therefore cost me about twenty shillings. A pipe was here lit by the old chief, and passed around, and smoked to the kind _Spirit_ they had successfully invoked, and with it all the anxieties of this day passed away. CHAPTER XIII.