[14] Being a silent listener to these conversations, I took out my note book and wrote down the remarks here given, as they were translated by Jeffrey.
[15] Clergymen.
[16] The author.
[17] Though the old War-chief, who was their speaking oracle on the subject of religion, remained sad and contemplative, there was daily much conversation and levity amongst the rest of the party on the subject of the “six religions of white men,” which they had discovered; and either Jim or the little “commanding general” (son of the War-chief), both of whom were busy with their pencils, left on the table for my portfolio the subjoined curious, but significant illustration of their ideas of white man’s paradise, and the six different modes of getting to it. [Plate No. 11] is a fac simile of this curious document, which the reader will appreciate on examination.
[18] This is, undoubtedly, the favourite and most manly and exciting game of the North American Indians, and often played by three or four hundred on a side, who venture their horses, robes, weapons, and even the very clothes upon their backs, on the issue of the game. For this beautiful game two byes or goals are established, at three or four hundred yards from each other, by erecting two poles in the ground for each, four or five feet apart, between which it is the strife of either party to force the ball (it having been thrown up at a point half-way between) by catching it in a little hoop, or racket, at the end of a stick, three feet in length, held in both hands as they run, throwing the ball an immense distance when they get it in the stick. This game is always played over an extensive prairie or meadow, and the confusion and laughable scrambles for the ball when it is falling, and often sought for by two or three hundred gathered to a focus, are curious and amusing beyond the reach of any description or painting.
[19] The polite Doctor often spoke of his admiration of this excellent lady and of her beautiful park, and expressed his regrets also that the day they spent there was so short; for while hunting for the ball which they had lost, it seemed he had strolled alone into her beautiful Conservatoire, where he said, “in just casting his eyes around, he thought there were roots that they had not yet been able to find in this country, and which they stood much in need of.” He said “he believed from what he had seen when he was looking for the ball, though nobody had ever told him, that this lady was a great root-doctor.”
[20] No Indian language in America affords the power of swearing, not being sufficiently rich and refined.
[21] The reverend gentleman.
[22] Mr. Catlin.
[23] One of the most violent causes of the Indian’s hatred of white men is, that nearly every Indian grave is opened by them on the frontier for their skulls or for the weapons and trinkets buried with them.