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
"My Friends,--We have come on your great _medicine road_, and it
pleased us very much. When we landed from our ship, we came on your
_medicine road_, and were told it would be very fine; but when we
started, we were all very much alarmed; we went in the dark; we all
went right down into the ground, under a high mountain; we had heard
that a part of the white people go into the ground when they die,
and some of them into the fire; we saw some fire; there was a great
hissing, and a great deal of smoke coming out of this place,[4] and
we could not get out; we were then somewhat afraid, my friends and
I began to sing our '_death-song_;' but when we had commenced, our
hearts were full of joy, we came out again in the open air, and the
country was very beautiful around us. (_How, how, how!_ and great
applause.)
"My Friends,--After we got out from under the ground, we were much
pleased all the way on the _medicine road_ until we got to this
village. There were many things to please us, and I think that before
the trees were cut down, it was a very beautiful country. My friends,
we think there were Indians and buffalos in this country then. (_How,
how, how!_)
"My Friends,--We think we saw some of the _k'nick k'neck_[5] as we
came along the _medicine road_, and some _quash-e-gon-eh-co_,[6]
but we came so fast that we were not certain; we should like to know.
My Friends, this is all I have to say." (_How, how, how!_ and great
applause.)
[4] The railway tunnel at Liverpool.
[5] The red willow, from the inner bark of which the Indians make
their substitute for tobacco.
[6] A medicinal herb, the roots of which the Indians use as a
cathartic medicine.
[Illustration: N^o. 10.]
The Doctor's speech, which would have been terminated much sooner if he
had been allowed to proceed unmolested, had a very pleasing effect upon
the audience, and had allowed abundant time for the rest of the party
to prepare for the next _dance_.
I now announced to the audience that the Indians were about to give the
_Warrior's-dance_, as performed by their tribe. I explained the meaning
of it, the circumstances under which it was given, and the respects
in which it differed from the War-dance as given by the Ojibbeways.
After which they were all upon their feet, and, with weapons in hand,
proceeded to give it the most exciting, and even _alarming_ effect.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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