10

THE WILD-WEST SHOW.
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A visit to the State of Nebraska, steamship,
early yesterday morning convinced us that the
thing promised us is very real, and that in
Buffalo Bill's Wild-West Show the public have
a unique treat in store. On Thursday such
difficulties were put in our way in an innocent
attempt to board the ship on her arrival at
Gr[?]esend that we feared something wrong.
It almost looked as if the inquisitive eye of the
newspaper fellow was to be hooded until the
Indians could be r[?]ded up to correct hue after
the washing out of a trying voyage. But we
had forgotten the native modesty of our American
cousin, and discovered yesterday morning
the real state of the case, which was that the
promoters of the undertaking desired taht their
interesting company of men and beasts should
not be seen at what might be its worst.
Ever so little a touh of west in the wind brings
softness of atmosphere. There was no doubt why
the Red Indians yesterday sunned themselves so
contentedly on the larboard rail of the big ship
in the Albert Docks. OUt of the holds fore and
aft were swung at rapid intervals either bales of
cargo, or horseboxes containing buffalos, borses,
or other live stock. The whirr of the steam
winch, the shout of the men engaged in landing
cargo, and the miscellaneous bustles around were
exciting enough to the spectators railed off from
the wharf; but the nobel red med kept firm.
Nothing distrubed their placidity now that the
voyage was over, any more than on the voyage.
No sentiment of home-coming fluttered
their bosoms when English land hove in
sight; and only two very young braves
grunted as the low-lying shores of
the Thames appeared on the upward run to
the docks. It is fumoured tah they did not
think much of the scenery. The English however,
who looked at them yesterdy thought a
good deal of their picturesqueness. As they
topped the larboard rail, ablaze with the scarlet
and blue of thei blankets, they were exceedingly
striking. So were the scouts and cowboys
in their wide-brimmed hats, high boots,
and comely stature. But on the Nebraska's
decks one came to closer quarters with the
Indians. The eye welcomed it; the nose knew
it; though the unencumbered stalls fo the live
stock had not a little -- perhaps everything -- to
do with the last-mentioned item. Looking
upon the chiefs, braves, and squaws, one could
not help recalling the delightful sensations of
youth -- the first acquaintance with the last of
the Mohicans, the Great Spirit, Firewater,
Laughing Water, and the Dark Huron
warrior. Here were their counterparts --
moccassins, feathers, beaver skins, heads, and a
find show of war paint; ugly faces made uglier
by rude art; dignified countenances which retained
a stamp of high-breeding through ochre
and vermillion; free, springy strides, even when
the journey was from the hatchway to the lee
souppers. Not a glance was wasted upon a
stranger. All that came to the Indians was
taken for gratned; an archbiship in all his
finery would have fallen short of their mark.

Some of the men in Buffalo Bill's company --
both red and white -- are fine samples of humanity,
alike as to stature, carriage and features.
As to the squaws, in the absence of a
distincive label it was not easy to distinguish
them from there masters. There could be no
mistake, however, about the plump, laughing,
round-faced woman whose teeth should make
her a treasure for any honest dentist; nor about
the less favored squaw with the papoose
bundled behind in a shawl, as per illustrated
literature on the races of mankind. And the
jully youngerst, fat with the liberal
rations of the Nebraska, rolled merrily about
the deck, playing with the tackled blocks in the
necessary absence of prairie dogs and rattlesnakes.
The buffaloes semed to us in need of a
[?]ourse of pick-me-ups; and the horses had not, to
all outward appearances, much buck left in them.
A few days rest, feeding, and exercise at Earl's court
will no doubt put them all right again,
and it is really proof of good management that
the voyage has been successfully made.
Special trains from Galleon's Station were
brough down opposite the vessel, and the
live stock, with Indians to follow were taken
by the roundabout route via Junction road, on
the Midland, to their corrals, stables, and
encampments at Earl's Court. Hundreds of
people looked on in wonder at the Mexican
saddles, harness, weapons, and prairie gear
strewn upon the wharf, and never ceased to
gaze at the picturesque Indians, half-breeds,
and whites who moved here and there or surveyed
the surroundings with statueque composure.
It is the wish of the management that
their troup should, for the present, remain unhadgered
by visitors, and a sensible strictness
will be observed as to the admission at the Exhibition
gorunds. The most attractive half of the
Exhibition being thus safely housed, all efforts
are being made to complete the inudstrial half,
and astonishing progress is made from day to
day.