Recto:

l.l. in image: Omaha.11.

Mount Verso:

u.l. in graphite: 862.

u.c. printed on paper label: 459- VIEW FROM BLACKBIRD HILL. \ In Irving's Astoria is a short sketch of some of the \ romantic deeds of Wa-shinga-sa-ba, or Blackbird, a \ famous chief of the Omahas, who died in 1802, which \ concludes as follows: "His dominant spirit and his love for the white man were evinced in his latest breath \ with which he designated his place of sepulture. It \ was to be on a hill, or promontory, upward of 400 feet \ in height, overlooking a great extent of the Missouri, \ from which he had been accustomed to watch for the \ barks of the white men. The Missouri washes the \ base of the promontory, and after winding and doub- \ ling in many links and mazes in the plains below, re- \ turns to within 900 yards of its starting-place, so that \ for thirty miles, navigating with sail and oar, the voy- \ ager finds himself continually near to this singular \ promontory, as if spell-bound. \ "It was the dying command of the Blackbird that his \ tomb should be upon the summit of this hill, in which \ he should be interred, seated on his favorite horse, \ that he might overlook his ancient domain, and be- \ hold the barks of the white men as they came up the \ river to trade with his people." \ The river has now changed its course, running far to \ the eastward, leaving at the foot of the hill a lake in \ the old bed of the river. The mound which was raised \ over the chief and his horse is now nearly obliterated, \ "yet the hill of the Blackbird continues an object of \ veneration to the wandering savage, and a landmark \ to the voyager of the Missouri."

c.r. in graphite: Neg. No. 4037-a-1

Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Texas

Public domain