Adventures of the Ojibbeway and Ioway Indians in England, France, and Belgium; Vol. 2 (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. 2 (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
His next object was to designate the paintings he wished me to copy and
somewhat enlarge, and soon pointed out the number of fifteen, which I
was commanded to paint for the palace at Versailles.
During the time that my collection was thus remaining in the Louvre
many distinguished persons about the Court had access to it, and
amongst the number an excellent and kind lady, Madame Passy, the wife
of one of the distinguished members of the House of Deputies. This
charming lady sought an acquaintance with the Indians also, and, taking
a deep interest in their character and situation, invited them all to
dine at her house, where they were treated with genuine kindness and
liberality, which they will never forget.
CHAPTER XXX.
The Author leaves his Collection in the Louvre, and arrives with
the Indians in Bruxelles--Indians at the soirée of the American
Minister in Bruxelles--Author's reception by the King in the
Palace--Small-pox among the Indians--Indians unable to visit
the Palace--Exhibition closes--Seven sick with small-pox--Death
of one of them--His will--A second dies--His will--The rest
recover--Faithful attentions of Daniel--The Author accompanies
them to Antwerp, and pays their expenses to London on a
steamer--Death of the War-chief in London--His will--The
Author raises money by subscription and sends to them--Letter
from the survivors, in England, to the Author--Drawings by
the War-chief--The Author stopped in the streets of London
and invited to see the skeleton of the War-chief!--His
indignation--Subsequent deaths of four others of this party
in England--The three parties of Indians in Europe--Their
objects--Their success--Their conduct--Their reception and
treatment--Things which they saw and learned--Estimates and
statistics of civilized life which they have carried home--Their
mode of reasoning from such premises--And the probable results.
During the time that my collection was exposed to the exclusive views
of the Royal Family and their guests, the Indians were lying still, at
my expense, which was by no means a trifling item. The young man whom I
said they were under a contract with to pay them so much per month had
performed his agreement with them for the two first months, and when
the third month's wages became due he declared to them and to me that
he could not pay them, nor pay their expenses back to London, as he was
obligated to do. These duties then devolved on me, or at least, the
Indians having been so long under my control and direction, I assumed
them, and told the chiefs I would pay their expenses to London, and
probably make something for them on the way, after my exhibition in the
Louvre was finished.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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