Illustrations of the manners, customs, & condition of the North American Indians, Vol. 2 (of 2): With letters and notes, written during eight years of travel and adventure among the wildest and most remarkable tribes now existingCatlin, George
History
Illustrations of the manners, customs, & condition of the North American Indians, Vol. 2 (of 2): With letters and notes, written during eight years of travel and adventure among the wildest and most remarkable tribes now existing
Catlin, George
Indians of North America
“_Indian Knowledge of English Affairs_—Mr. Catlin, in one of his
Lectures on the manners and customs of the North American Indians,
during the last week, related a very curious occurrence, which
excited a great deal of surprise and some considerable mirth
amongst his highly respectable and numerous audience. Whilst
speaking of the great and warlike tribe of Sioux or Dahcotas, of
40,000 or 50,000, he stated that many of this tribe, as well as of
several others, although living entirely in the territory of the
United States, and several hundred miles south of her Majesty’s
possessions, were found cherishing a lasting friendship for the
English, whom they denominate Saganosh. And in very many instances
they are to be seen wearing about their necks large silver medals,
with the portrait of George III. in bold relief upon them. These
medals were given to them as badges of merit during the last war
with the United States, when these warriors were employed in the
British service.
“The Lecturer said, that whenever the word Saganosh was used,
it seemed to rouse them at once; that on several occasions when
Englishmen had been in his company as fellow-travellers, they had
marked attentions paid them by these Indians as Saganoshes. And on
one occasion, in one of his last rambles in that country, where
he had painted several portraits in a small village of Dahcotas,
the chief of the band positively refused to sit; alleging as his
objection that the pale faces, who were not to be trusted, might
do some injury to his portrait, and his health or his life might
be affected by it. The painter, as he was about to saddle his
horse for his departure, told the Indian that he was a Saganosh,
and was going across the Big Salt Lake, and was very sorry that
he could not carry the picture of so distinguished a man. At this
intelligence the Indian advanced, and after a hearty grip of the
hand, very carefully and deliberately withdrew from his bosom, and
next to his naked breast, a large silver medal, and turning his
face to the painter, pronounced with great vehemence and emphasis
the word Sag-a-nosh! The artist, supposing that he had thus gained
his point with the Indian Sagamore, was making preparation to
proceed with his work, when the Indian still firmly denied him
the privilege—holding up the face of his Majesty (which had got a
superlative brightness by having been worn for years against his
naked breast), he made this singular and significant speech:—‘When
you cross the Big Salt Lake, tell my Great Father that you saw his
face, and it was bright!’ To this the painter replied, ‘I can never
see your Great Father, he is dead!’ The poor Indian recoiled in
silence, and returned his medal to his bosom, entered his wigwam,
at a few paces distant, where he seated himself amidst his family
around his fire, and deliberately lighting his pipe, passed it
around in silence.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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