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
and he promptly answered, “my name is Matthew Wright Martin.” He was
then received into Colonel Dodge’s arms; and an order was immediately
given for the Pawnee and Kiowa girls to be brought forward; they were
in a few minutes brought into the council-house, when they were at
once recognized by their friends and relatives, who embraced them with
the most extravagant expressions of joy and satisfaction. The heart
of the venerable old chief was melted at this evidence of white man’s
friendship, and he rose upon his feet, and taking Colonel Dodge in his
arms, and placing his left cheek against the left cheek of the Colonel,
held him for some minutes without saying a word, whilst tears were
flowing from his eyes. He then embraced each officer in turn, in the
same silent and affectionate manner; which form took half an hour or
more, before it was completed.[9]
“From this moment the council, which before had been a very grave and
uncertain one, took a pleasing and friendly turn. And this excellent
old man ordered the women to supply the dragoons with something to eat,
as they were hungry.
“The little encampment, which heretofore was in a woeful condition,
having eaten up their last rations twelve hours before, were now
gladdened by the approach of a number of women, who brought their
“back loads” of dried buffalo meat and green corn, and threw it down
amongst them. This seemed almost like a providential deliverance, for
the country between here and the Camanchees, was entirely destitute of
game, and our last provisions were consumed.
“The council thus proceeded successfully and pleasantly for several
days, whilst the warriors of the Kiowas and Wicos, two adjoining and
friendly tribes living further to the West, were arriving; and also a
great many from other bands of the Camanchees, who had heard of our
arrival; until two thousand or more of these wild and fearless-looking
fellows were assembled, and all, from their horses’ backs, with
weapons in hand, were looking into our pitiful little encampment,
of two hundred men, all in a state of dependence and almost literal
starvation; and at the same time nearly one half the number too sick to
have made a successful resistance if we were to have been attacked.” *
* * * * * * * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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