12 THE BISON. 



that they supply a large part of the food used by 

 the natives, and covering to their tents and per- 

 sons, while in many parts of the country there is 

 no fuel to be obtained but the dried dung of this 

 animal. The Indians always associate ideas of 

 enjoyment with plenty of bison, and they fre- 

 quently constitute the skull of one of them, their 

 "Great Medicine." They have dances and cere- 

 monies that are observed previous to the com- 

 mencement of their hunting. 



The herds of bison wander over the country in 

 search of food, usually led by a bull most remarka- 

 ble for strength and fierceness. While feeding, 

 they are often scattered over a great extent of coun- 

 try, but when they move in mass they form a dense 

 almost impenetrable column, which, once in mo- 

 tion, is scarcely to be impeded. Their line of march 

 is seldom interrupted even by considerable rivers, 

 across which they swim without fear or hesitation, 

 nearly in the order that they traverse the plains. 

 When flying before their pursuers, it would be in 

 vain for the foremost to halt, or attempt to obstruct 

 the progress of the main body, as the throng in the 

 rear still rushing onward, the leaders must ad- 

 vance, although destruction awaits the movement. 

 The Indians take advantage of this circumstance to 

 destroy great quantities of this favourite game, and, 

 certainly, no mode could be resorted to more effec- 

 tually destructive, nor could a more terrible devasta- 

 tion be produced, than that of forcing a numerous 



