INDIAN SKETCHES, TAKEN DURING AN EXPEDITION TO THE PAWNEE TRIBES. BY JOHN T. IRVING, JR. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. _PHILADELPHIA_: CAREY, LEA AND BLANCHARD. 1835. Entered, June 15th, 1835, according to Act of Congress, by JOHN T. IRVING, JR., in the office of the Clerk of the Southern District of New York. ERRATA. Page 74, line 1, for _Tappaye_ read _Tappage_. ” 108, ” 3, for _chief_ read _chief’s_. ” 124, ” 20, for _Loovah_ read _Looah_. ” 136, ” 10, for _their surfaces_ read _the surface_. ” 185, ” 15, for _they_ read _we_. ” 196, ” 7, for _charnel_ read _charnel house_. INDIAN SKETCHES. * * * * * CHAPTER I. _Preparations for Reception.—Reception by Grand Pawnees._ During the evening previous to our arrival, several half-breeds, who had been sent out by the Commissioner to gain information of the probable reception which awaited us, came dropping in, all bearing promises of a friendly welcome, from the Pawnee chiefs. At sunrise the next morning, the tents were struck, and placed in the heavy baggage wagons; and a more than usual bustle and note of preparation was heard in the camp. The soldiers seated themselves upon the grass, to examine and prepare their arms; and the Otoe Indians, were busily engaged in ornamenting themselves for the meeting. Some had spread their blankets upon the prairie, and were anxiously employed in tracing various figures in vermilion, upon their woolly surfaces. Some, eagerly bending over the small pools of still water left in the dry bed of the river, were painting their faces with vermilion, manifesting as much interest and anxiety in the choice of their ornaments, as a young belle preparing for her first ball. Paint was placed on and rubbed off. Faces were striped first in one direction, then in another; and the advice of those who were sitting round, was asked and given, with all the gravity befitting so important an operation. In the meantime, two or three finished their toilets, and seated themselves at a short distance to serve as models for the rest. Several who had acquired some reputation for skill in this art, were busily engaged in painting up the less gifted of their companions. Whilst this was going on in one quarter, in another, five or six Indians, who either had no paint, or cared not about the opinion of those they intended to visit, lay stretched at full length in the grass. Here they kept up an incessant