It is worth noting that among all the curiosities shown to these visitors, they were more interested in the portraits of the Indian chiefs in the War Department than in anything else. They seemed never to weary of standing in front of the paintings, and gazing upon the features of those of their own race, whose fame had come down to them in tradition, and whose deeds and oratory had filled even civilized brethren with admiration for their heroic qualities. The Indians arrived at Fort Monroe in the latter part of April. None was put in irons, and all were treated with kindness. Few indeed could feel any emotion other than sympathy for those men who had suffered so much from a people that claimed a higher civilization and professed the gentle teachings of Christianity. Although the cage in which they were kept was a gilded one, it was none the less a prison, and they sighed for the free air of the prairies and mountains. The welcome order arrived in about five weeks, and they left by steamboat for Baltimore. Naturally they attracted great interest at all points where they stopped, and their tour through the northern cities was, to use a common expression, an "ovation." We Americans are famous for our "speeches" and "addresses" which are ready on the slightest provocation. Most of those directed at Black Hawk were of a wishy-washy character, that could bear no comparison with the sturdy, sententious eloquence of the natural orator. The best one of the lot was made by Hon. John A. Graham, at a reception given to the red men in New York. "Brothers," said he, "open your ears. You are brave men. You have fought like tigers, but in a bad cause. We have conquered you. We are sorry, last year, that you raised the tomahawk against us; but we believe you did not know us then as you do now. We think that in time to come, you will be wise, and that we shall be friends forever. You see that we are a great people, numerous as the flowers of the field, as the shells on the seashore, or the fish in the sea. We put one hand on the eastern, and, at the same time, the other on the western ocean. We all act together. Sometimes our great men talk loud and long at our council fires, but if you shed one drop of white men's blood, our young warriors, as thick as stars of the night, will leap on board our great boats, which fly on the waves, and over the lakes, swift as the eagle of the air, then penetrate the woods, make the big guns thunder, and the whole heavens red with the flames of the dwellings of their enemies." [Illustration: SHAWANOH, THE UTE CHIEF] "Brothers, the President made you a great talk. He has but one mouth. That one has sounded the sentiments of all the people. Listen to what he has said to you. Write it on your memories. It is good, very good.