Muk-a-tah-mish-o-kah-kaik (the black hawk, [plate 283]) is the man to whom I have above alluded, as the leader of the “Black Hawk war,” who was defeated by General Atkinson, and held a prisoner of war, and sent through Washington and other Eastern cities, with a number of others, to be gazed at.
This man, whose name has carried a sort of terror through the country where it has been sounded, has been distinguished as a speaker or councellor rather than as a warrior; and I believe it has been pretty generally admitted, that “Nah-pope” and the “Prophet” were, in fact, the instigators of the war; and either of them with much higher claims for the name of warrior than Black Hawk ever had.
When I painted this chief, he was dressed in a plain suit of buckskin, with strings of wampum in his ears and on his neck, and held in his hand, his medicine-bag, which was the skin of a black hawk, from which he had taken his name, and the tail of which made him a fan, which he was almost constantly using.
[Plate 284], is the eldest son of Black Hawk, Nah-se-us-kuk (the whirling thunder), a very handsome young warrior, and one of the finest-looking Indians I ever saw. There is a strong party in the tribe that is anxious to put this young man up; and I think it more than likely, that Kee-o-kuk as chief may fall ere long by his hand, or by some of the tribe, who are anxious to reinstate the family of Black Hawk.
[Plate 285], Wah-pe-kee-suck (the white cloud), called “the Prophet,” is a very distinguished man, and one of the principal and leading men of the Black Hawk party, and studying favour with the whites, as will be seen by the manner in which he was allowing his hair to grow out.
[Plate 286], Wee-sheet (the sturgeon’s head), this man held a spear in his hand when he was being painted, with which he assured me he killed four white men during the war; though I have some doubts of the fact.
Ah-mou-a (the whale, [plate 287], and his wife, [plate 288]), are also fair specimens of this tribe. Her name is Wa-quo-the-qua (the buck’s wife, or female deer), and she was wrapped in a mackinaw blanket, whilst he was curiously dressed, and held his war-club in his hand.
Pash-ee-pa-ho (the little stabbing chief, [plate 289]), a very old man, holding his shield, staff and pipe in his hands; has long been the head civil chief of this tribe; but, as is generally the case in very old age, he has resigned the office to those who are younger and better qualified to do the duties of it.
Besides the above-mentioned personages, I painted also the following portraits, which are now in my Collection.
I-o-way (the Ioway), one of Black Hawk’s principal warriors; his body curiously ornamented with his “war-paint;” Pam-a-ho (the swimmer), one of Black Hawk’s warriors; No-kuk-qua (the bear’s fat); Pash-ee-pa-ho (the little stabbing chief, the younger), one of Black Hawk’s braves; Wah-pa-ko-las-kuk (the bear’s track); Wa-saw-me-saw (the roaring thunder), youngest son of Black Hawk; painted while prisoner of war.