88 A STRANGE CUSTOM AMONGST THE SIS-KY-OUS. 



descended from Spanish stock stout, compact, 

 enduring animals, seldom exceeding 15 hands, 

 14 J hands being about the average standard 

 of height. Spotted horses are very common, 

 and much prized by the squaws. 



The Sis-ky-ou Indians have a singular custom . 

 of cuttino; off the tails of the horses to a mere 



O 



stump, and cropping the ears, as terrier-dogs are 

 trimmed by the ' Fancy.' For what purpose such 

 bai'barous treatment is resorted to I could not 

 discover, but I imagine it enables them more 

 readily to identify their horses in case of theft. 

 I purchased a crop-eared tailless horse, for my 

 own use, but the poor animal suffered so fear- 

 fully from the punctures of musquitos and sand- 

 flies, having no tail to whip them off, that I could 

 not ride him in fly- time. 



I am most hospitably treated by Colonel 

 Wright, the commandant of the American garrison, 

 which consists of a number of very neatly-built 

 houses, arranged in a square. Four companies, 

 consisting of infantry and cavalry, are sometimes 

 stationed here. The officers have a capital 

 billiard-room, and a small theatre for amateur 

 performances. The situation is desolate in the 

 extreme nothing visible in any direction but a 

 sandy extent of barren treeless country, 



