Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-04-28
ANECDOTES OF CATLIS,

We have seen most interesting letter
says the London Morning Advertiser from
a young man who has recently settled in
Brazil, in which he speaks of recontre with
Catlin, the celebrated ethnographer and
traveller. He met him in George Town,
Demerara, and was Immediately recognised,
although it was ten years since they had seen
each other in the Egyptian Hail. "You
won't know me :" he said to Catln, lit is ten
years since you saw me,' Catlin, in answer,
pronounced his name in an instant. They
proceeded, together. 800 miles, "by land and
by water through forests and swamps and
prairies," following the course Of the Amazon,
and we select the following incidents on the
journey. The first relating TO Colts pistols,
contains hint to some old Chief in England
We must explain that Catlin had received
the name of "Governor' from his youthful
associate:
How THE OLD CHIEF WAS AsroNIsHED By A
CoLT.-"The Governor had one OF Colts
pistols in his belt and one of his revolving
rifles always in his hand, and had the old
MIME, with whose power you are somewhat
acquainted. ! had let out the idea that the
Governors gun could shoot all day without
reloading, which made an illustration neces-
sary. They were all anxious to see it set in
"NNiOhi anu piuCcu tuc uuOI VI Oul tcut
which was part of cow skin stretched on
a hoop at the distance of sixty or seventy
yards with bulls eye in the centre. The
whole village had assembled, and the Gov
ernor took his position and went off,-one
two three four! five six II then step
ped up and told him that was enough, pre-
sumed and while the old Chief was assuring
him that they were all convinced, and it was
a pity to waste any more ammunition, the
Governor was slipping the empty cylinder
oil and another one on, with six charges
more, witLo2t their observing what he was
doing-he offered to proceed, but all were
satisfied that his gun would shoot all day
without stopping. and this report travelled
ahead of US to all the tribes we afterwards
visited in that region
The next is Tiger story:
KEEP Cool AND DoN'T SPILL THE GRAVY
"One day when he had landed and most of
our party were lying asleep on the boat, which
was drawn under the shade Of some large
trees, the Governor and had collected wood
and made large FIRE, over which we were
roasting fat pig which had shot from the
boat during the morning. ! was squat down
on one side of the fire, holding short handled
frying pan in which we had made some very
squatted down opposite to me, was ladling
over the pig, with an Indian wooden spoon.
All of sudden, observed his eyes fixed upon
something over my shoulder, when he said to
me in very low tone, "Now want you to
keep perfectly cool, and don't spill the gravy
there is splendid tiger behind you p ]
held fast to the frying pan, and turning my
head gradually around. | had full view Of
the fellow within eight PAGES Of me, lying Fat
on his side, and with his paws lifting up and
playing with the legs of one ofthe Spaniard's,
who had laid himself down upon his belly and
was fast asleep. Our rifles were left in the
boat! The Governor drew himself gradually
down the bank, on his hands and feet, order
ing me not to move J was in hopes he would
have taken his old MIME, but he preferred his
own weapon, and getting it to bear upon the
breast, he was obliged 10 wait some minutes
Tor 1t TO raise its head, so as not to endanger
the poor Spanard at the crack of the rife
the animal gave q piercing screech, and leaped
about D feet straight into the air, and fell
quite dead. The Spaniard leaped nearly as
far in the different direction and at the
same instant from behind little bunch OF
bushes on the opposite side, I not half the
distance freng our fire, and right behind the
Goverhor's back, where he had been sitting,
sprang the mate, which darted into the
thicket and disappeared. We skinned this
beautiful animal, which was shot exactly be-
tween the eyes, and after ell hands had with
drawn to the boat waited several hours in
hopes that the other one would show itself
again, but we waited in vain, and lost our
game"