ij 
THE AMERICAN BISONS. 203 
rush in with their arrows and musketry, and slaughter immense numbers in 
a few hours.” * 
Mr. Catlin, in his “North American Indians,” has described with consider- 
able detail the methods of hunting the buffalo among the Sioux Indians, and 
has given a series of six plates illustrative of the chase.t According to this 
author, the chief hunting amusement of the Indians of the vicinity of the 
Teton River, a small tributary of the Missouri, which joins the latter at old 
Fort Pierre, in Southern Dakota, consists in the chase of the buffalo. Being 
bold and desperate horsemen, they almost invariably pursue the buffalo on 
horseback, despatching him with the bow and lance with apparent ease. The 
horses, being well trained to the chase, as well as very fleet, soon bring their 
riders alongside their game. The Indian, as well as his horse, is divested of 
everything that might prove an encumbrance in running, the Indian even 
throwing off his shield and quiver as well as his clothing; taking in his left 
hand five or six arrows drawn from his quiver, he holds them ready for 
instant use, while he plies a heavy whip with his right. Riding near the 
rear of the herd he selects his animal, which he separates from the mass by 
dashing his horse between it and the herd, and, riding past it to the right, 
discharges his deadly arrow at the animal's heart, which penetrates “ to the 
feather.” Some, our author says, also pursue the animal with the lance. In 
this manner the Sioux were accustomed to destroy immense numbers of the 
buffalo, pursuing them in large hunting-parties, and killmg hundreds and 
even thousands in a single hunt. Mr. Catlin refers to one of these grand 
hunts that occurred just before his arrival at the Fur Company’s post at the 
mouth of the Teton, in May, 1833. A large herd of buffaloes appearing in 
sight on the opposite side of the river, a band of five hundred or six hundred 
Sioux horsemen forded the river about midday, and, recrossing the river at 
sundown, brought with them to the post fourteen hundred fresh buffalo tongues, 
which they readily exchanged for a few gallons of whiskey, “which was soon 
demolished,” as our narrator states, “indulging them in a little and harmless 
carouse.” Not askin, nora pound of meat, except the tongues, was saved 
from these slaughtered hundreds. : 
In winter, when from the depth of the snow these huge creatures are 
tnable to move rapidly, they fall an easy prey to the Indian, who overtakes 
them readily upon his snow-shoes, and despatches them with his bow and 
* Discovery and Exploration of the Mississippi Valley, p. 18, footnote. 
+ North American Indians, Vol. I, plates evii—cxii. 
