All necessary arrangements for our voyage being made, Mr. Mc Kenzie caused some fire-works to be let off before the fort on the bank of the Missouri, for the amusement of the people, which gave occasion to many jokes. The serpents dispersed the crowds of young Canadians, who had never seen anything of the kind before, and were called by their older, more experienced comrades, _mangeurs de lard_.[13]
[1] This volume begins with chapter xvi of the London edition.--ED.
[2] For the Cree, consult our volume ii, p. 168, note 75.--ED.
[3] Catlin painted a portrait of this chief in 1832; and speaks of his visit to Washington under the care of John A. Sanford (probably in 1831-32), accompanied by several Assiniboin. See Catlin, _North American Indians_, i, p. 56.--ED.
[4] Some of them assured me that the intention of this custom was, that their deceased friends or relations might participate in the enjoyment of this benefit.--MAXIMILIAN.
[5] See Plate 45, in the accompanying atlas, our volume xxv.--ED.
[6] See background of Plate 65, in the accompanying atlas, our volume xxv.--ED.
[7] For portrait of this Indian, see Plate 65, in the accompanying atlas, our volume xxv.--ED.
[8] See Plate 16, in the accompanying atlas, our volume xxv.--ED.
[9] I have spoken on this subject in the account of my "Travels in Brazil," the above defect being very common among the Brazilians. On the whole, it appears that there are more cripples among the North American Indians than in Brazil. A dwarfish Assiniboin frequently visited Fort Union, who was, at the most, between three and four feet high; his legs were short, crooked, and deformed. His head, and the upper part of his body, were perfectly well-formed; his countenance animated and intelligent, as is frequently the case with such persons. He wore a remarkably handsome dress, and rode his spirited horse exceedingly well. In the course of this journey in North America, I met with several Indian dwarfs; but not a single instance among the many Brazilians whom I have seen. Governor Cass likewise mentions a deformed Indian. On St. Peter's River there were two Sioux women, each of whom was about two feet and a half high; and there were similar dwarfs among the Blackfeet.--MAXIMILIAN.