One tribe is not as another tribe. Mr. Catlin does not
deal in generaliues, nor set down theories, and in ranging
over the enure field of Indian life, he includes the Indian's
own point of view. His style is direct, almost conversational,
but when his emotions are stirred it acquires an almost
poetical elevation.
These books, to which two others were afterward added, it
is esumated brought him in fifty thousand dollars. But the
money earned was at once spent in further researches. Not-
withstanding a disastrous experience he had in England, he
earned substanual sums, and it was his boast that in all his
travels he never ate a meal at the expense of the government,
while he usually had two men, trappers or natives, to assist
him in transportation.
Sketch of Catlin's Life



Unconscioucly during thete wuidering* certain preponea-
sioiu arc»e in Mr. Catlin's mind concerning the origin of the
Indian, and his relation to this continent. He was familiar
with the various theories, and one may trace in his writings how
details in faror of now one and now the other came up to con-
front him. Hia own conclusiona did not admit any tbeoiy of
immigration from another continent, and thete he suppotta
by a laige amount of interesting facts, which it is impossible
to do more than allude to here. These retrt»pective obserra-
tions are indeed of less consequence than the foresight that led
him to undertake these journeys. In 1832 he clearly foresaw
the fate ottht buffalo as he saw that of the Indian, and pleaded
as earnestly for the one as for the other.
A suggestion then made by Mr. Catlin it is pertinent B> recall.
