Adventures of the Ojibbeway and Ioway Indians in England, France, and Belgium; Vol. 1 (of 2): being Notes of Eight Years' Travels and Residence in Europe with his North American Indian CollectionCatlin, George
History
Adventures of the Ojibbeway and Ioway Indians in England, France, and Belgium; Vol. 1 (of 2): being Notes of Eight Years' Travels and Residence in Europe with his North American Indian Collection
Catlin, George
England -- Description and travel; France -- Description and travel; Indians of North America
No. 4.--_Pocahontas rescuing Captain John Smith, an English Officer._
"It had been decided in council, over which _Pow-ha-tan_ presided,
that Captain John Smith should be put to death, by having his head
placed on a large stone, and his brains beaten out by two warriors
armed with huge painted clubs. His executioners were standing with
their clubs raised over him, and in the very instant for giving the
fatal blow, when _Pocahontas_, the chief's favourite daughter, then
about thirteen years old, threw herself with folded arms over the
head of the captain, who was instantly ordered by the chief to be
released."
No. 5.--_Wrestling._ A favourite amusement among many of the tribes.
For these scenes, several distinguished young men are selected
on each side, and the goods bet being placed in the care of the
stakeholders, the wrestling commences at a signal given, and the
stakes go to the party who count the greatest number of men remaining
on their feet.
No. 6.--_Ball Play._ The most beautiful and exciting of all Indian
games. This game is often played by several hundreds on a side. The
group represents the players leaping into the air, and struggling to
catch the ball as it is descending, in their ball-sticks.
No. 7.--_Game of Tchung-kee._ The favourite play of the Mandans, and
used by them as their principal gambling game.
No. 8.--_The Night Dance of the Seminolees._ A ceremony peculiar to
this tribe, in which the young men assemble and dance round the fire
after the chiefs have retired to rest, gradually stamping it out with
their feet, and singing a song of thanksgiving to the Great Spirit;
after which they wrap themselves in their robes and retire to rest.
One will easily see that this opened a new field of amusement and
excitement for my old friends, who were now nightly present, with their
companions, and approving with rounds of applause. Amongst these was
my untiring friend Mr. Murray, who, among the distinguished personages
whom he introduced, made a second visit with the little Leopold, Duc
de Brabant, whom he brought in his arms from his carriage. His Royal
Highness, as the curtain rose and I stepped forward to give a brief
lecture, seemed not a little disappointed, by the speech that he
suddenly made--"Why, that is not an Indian, that is Mr. Catlin, who
gave me the Indian pipe and the mocassins." However, a few moments more
brought forth red faces, and songs and yelps that seemed more sensibly
to affect his Royal Highness's nerves, and at which Mr. Murray removed
with him to a more distant part of the room, from which point he looked
on with apparent delight.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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