The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1837-12-16

NOVEL AND INTERESTING ScENE.-We were
fortunately one of about an hundred persons, whol
were invited TO visit Mr.. Cahin's Indian Gallery,
on Saturday morning last, at nine o'clock, where
we were TO see his extensive collection OF indian
Portraits, Landscapes, and Indian curiosities, ar
ranged upon the walls in the splendid hall OF the
Stuyvesant Institute, and where also were to be
received at the same time the delegation Of Paw
nee Chiefs in propiG persona, in full costume.
We counted 400 paintings Of Indians, Of Land
scapes of the Prairie, Of Buffalo hunts, &c. &C.;
and every inch of the walls that could be spared
was covered with costumes, war-clubs, pipes,
shields, spears, bows, arrows, quivers, &C.; and
in the centre of the floor splendid lodge Of the
Crow tribe, Of twenty-five feet in height, brought
from the Rocky Mountains, and erected in beau
tifal style. In the midst Of the assemblage, was
Mr.. c., for while pointing out and explaining
the works of his brush that were about him, when
at once the wild men, with rush, entered the
door with Major DOugherty, the agent, at their
head. We saw at full length, in full dress, these
noble men Of nature; shook hands and conversed
with them; saw them gaze for while upon the
portraits of their friends and their enemies, whom
of course, they instantly recognized. We had
also the satisfaction of seeing in the group, and
of being introduced to them, Majors Dougherty,
Sanford, and Mckenzie, the gentlemen Of whom
Mr.. =. has so often spoken in his lectures as his
fellow travellers in that country, and whose cert-
ficates he has published; and we were delighted
to follow them about the room, as they named al
most every portrait and landscape, in giving
strongest appreciation of the truth and fidelity
with which this strange and unique collection had
been wrought. These gentlemen gave demon
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transported back to the west, with the prairies,
and their occupants, the Indians and the Buffalo
actually about them.
After fair look at the works upon the wall,
Mr.. G. invited the agents and Indians into the
Lodge to take Gas it is termed in the Indian coun-
try "a smoke They then entered the Lodge
(about thirty in ally and seated themselves around
its sides, upon the floor, according to the custom
of the country. The pipe and the otter sack were
handed into them--the pipe was charged and lit,
its fumes were passing in streams through their
nostrils--it was passed around, and, when in full
operation, Mr.. C. directed the sides Of the Lodge
to be rolled up, which exposed the group to the
full and fair view of the spectators-the numerous
and lovely groupe Of ladies who were present,
seemed delighted with JOY and the qualification Of
such sight. 1t was moment of pleasure for
every one who was present, which they never
can fOrget;-there was fitness, reality, that
lacked nothing. The Indians themselves, some
OF the finest specimens of the wildness and rude
ness of Natures works, seated under Lodge of
their country--of their own make-with their
own interpreters and agents with them as they are
seen at home--the pipes and Kinnekenick put
into their hands, also brought from their own re-
gion-the buffalo robes upon which they sat like
wise familiar to them, and every inch Of the inn
mense walls that were around them, covered with
the portraits of their friends or enemies, with the
landscapes of their country or the costumes and
weapons of their own construction. All these
circumstances together, filled every visiter with
pleasure unspeakable; and SO excited the feelings
OF the Indians, that their smoking merged at length
into song. The drum and sheshiquOr (rattle),
were then taken from the wall by Mr. c., and
put into their hands, and wrought their feelings
to higher pitch, and the scene ended in a spir-
tied dance AT the close of this, Mr.. G.. invited
them and the agents into his private room adioin-
ing, to show them their own portraits, nearly all
of whom he had just been painting, but which, he
observed, were not quite sufficiently finished to
put in his Gallery, where they would be placed
IN few days. Carriages were now announced
as waiting for them at the door; and when they
took their leave Of their medicine friend, (Mr. c..
each one stepped up to him in turn, and closely
embraced him in their arms. We shook him BY
the hand as we went out, and could not but smile
at the rouge his cheeks were Redeemed with, and
the impress of vermillion on his coat.--Neao York
Star.
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