THE MANDAN INDIANS.

Most of us have read and heard of the Red Indians of North America, and, perhaps, have mentally classed them all as one people, speaking the same language, having the same manners and customs, and of the same race. The fact, however, is, that there are as wide diversities of origin, character, habits, and language, among the native tribes scattered over the North American continent, as among the nations of Europe.

Our knowledge of the Red Indians has been greatly increased by the labors of George Catlin, who, for eight years, (from 1832 to 1840,) travelled and lived among them during that time he devoted himself to the task of obtaining every possible information respecting the manners and customs of the different tribes. He painted the portraits of many of their principal men and women; he took sketches of their dresses, their ceremonies, and their sports; and his book, which is profusely illustrated with outline engravings, taken from his paintings, will remain as a vivid memento of Indian life, when, as it is

too probable will soon be the case, the people whose story it records have utterly disappeared from the face of the earth. This has already been the case with one tribe, in many respects the most remarkable among all that he visited; the wild and gentlemanly Mandans, a view of whose village is prefixed to this chapter.

At the time when Mr. Catlin visited them, the tribe was located on the west bank of the Missouri river, about 1800 miles above St. Louis, one of the most westerly cities of the United States. The Mandans at that time numbered in all about 2,000 souls, who were divided between two villages, situated about two miles apart.

The lower, or principal town, was situated in one of the most beautiful and pleasing spots that could be found in the world, being in the very midst of an extensive valley, embraced within a thousand swells, and parapets or mounds of interminable green, changing to blue as they vanished in the distance. The ground on which the village stood was a promontory, forty or fifty feet above the bed of the river, which there, suddenly changing its course at a rightangle, protected two sides of the village, which had a most novel appearance to the eye of a stranger.

The lodges, looking like huge inverted earthen bowls, were closely grouped together, leaving but just room enough

for walking and riding between them. On entering, the visitor was surprised to see the neatness, comfort, and size of these dwellings. They were all circular, and from forty to sixty feet in diameter, and were inhabited by from twenty to forty persons-a family and all their connections. Their bedsteads, similar in form to ours, and neatly covered with a sacking and hangings of buffalo-skins, were uniformly screened with curtains of buffalo or elk, often beautifully dressed, and tastefully cut into fringe, with handsome ornaments of porcupines' quills, and picturewritings or hieroglyphics. The fire-place was in the centre, immediately under the circular hole at the top of the roof, which answered the double purpose of skylight and chimney; and suspended from this hole was generally seen the pot or kettle of buffalo-meat, and around it reclined the family, in the most picturesque attitudes and groups, resting on their buffalo robes and beautiful rush

mats.

The foundations of their lodges were prepared by digging the ground to the depth of two feet, to the required extent, and levelling the excavation. The walls were then formed of strong timbers, of eight or nine inches diameter, firmly fixed in the ground round the sides thus prepared, and a formidable embankment of earth was

raised against them outside. Another series of timbers, springing out at an angle of forty-five degrees from the top of the side-walls, and sending their smaller ends towards the apex, or circular hole before mentioned, formed the roof, which was supported and strengthened by upright pillars, connected by cross-beams. The whole edifice was then covered, to the depth of two or three feet, with earth; and over all was a plastering of tough clay, impervious to water, and hardened by time and the constant use to which it is subjected: for the roof of each lodge was a lounging-place for the whole family in pleasant weather -young and old resorted thither for gossip and mirth, or for solitary gaze and contemplation.

The earthen floors were so hardened by use, and swept so clean, and tracked by bare and moccasined feet, that they became almost polished, and would scarcely soil the whitest linen.

It was no uncommon thing to see these lodges fifty feet in diameter inside, with a row of curtained beds extending round their sides, and the space between each bed occupied by a large post, six or seven feet high, on which hung, with wild and startling taste, the arms and armor of the proprietor; his whitened shield, embossed and emblazoned his bow and quiver-his war-club or battle-axe