112 A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



not they, but the Stone Indians, who robbed and annoyed the 

 traders. The Stone Indian who was present, heard this accusation 

 against his tribe quite unmoved, but he probably did not understand 

 the whole of the communication. We left them to finish their rum, 

 and went to look round the lodges, and examine the pound. 



The greatest proportion of labour, in savage life, falls to the wo- 

 men ; we now saw them employed in dressing skins, and conveying 

 wood, water, and provision. As they have often to fetch the meat 

 from some distance, they are assisted in this duty by their dogs, 

 which are not harnessed in sledges, but carry their burthens in a 

 manner peculiarly adapted to this level country. Two long poles 

 are fastened by a collar to the dog's neck, their ends trail on the 

 ground, and are kept at a proper distance by a hoop, which is lashed 

 between them, immediately behind the dog's tail ; the hoop is co- 

 vered with network, upon which the load is placed. 



The boys were amusing themselves by shooting arrows at a mark, 

 and thus training to become hunters. The Stone Indians are so 

 expert with the bow and arrow, that they can strike a very small 

 object at a considerable distance, and will shoot with sufficient force 

 to pierce through the body of a buffalo when near. 



The buffalo pound was a fenced circular space of about a hun- 

 dred yards in diameter ; the entrance was banked up with snow, to 

 a sufficient height to prevent the retreat of the animals that may 

 once have entered. For about a mile on each side of the road lead- 

 ing to the pound, stakes were driven into the ground at nearly equal 

 distances of about twenty yards ; these were intended to look like 

 men, and to deter the animals from attempting to break out on either 

 side. Within fifty or sixty yards from the pound, branches of trees 

 were placed between these stakes to screen the Indians, who lie 

 down behind them to await the approach of the buffalo. 



The principal dexterity in this species of chase is shewn by the 

 horsemen, who have to manoeuvre round the herd in the plains so as 



