some places, as the boat landed in front of their villages, came with great caution and peeped over the bank of the river to see the fate of their chiefs, whose duty it was to approach the strange visitors. Sometimes in this plight they were instantly thrown neck and heels over each other's heads and shoulders—men, women and children, and dogs—sage, sachem, old and young—all in a mass, at the frightful discharge of the steam from the escape-pipe. There were many curious conjectures amongst their wise men, with regard to the nature and powers of the steam-boat. Some called it the "big thunder canoe;" for when in the distance below the village they saw the lightning flash from its sides, and heard the thunder come from it; others called it the "big medicine canoe with eyes." "It was medicine or mystery," says Catlin, "because they could not understand it;" "and it must have eyes, for," said they, "it sees its own way, and takes the deep water in the middle of the channel." They had no idea of the boat being steered by the man at the wheel.
Mr. Catlin and his two companions now arrived at one of the trading forts of the American Fur Company, at about three thousand five hundred miles' distance from his home; and the Indian tribes, who from time to time visited the fort to sell the skins of animals, afforded him many opportunities of acquiring a knowledge of their habits. Journeying still further westward, he joined the singular tribe of the Mandans, with whom he resided some time, and became intimately acquainted — sketching, meanwhile, all that was picturesque in their manners, customs, and ceremonies. He next entered the country of the Sioux, a tribe remarkable for
