10 EXPEDITION TO THE 



ties dragged on the ground. This sort of vehicle was se- 

 cured to the animal by a string passing round the breast, 

 and another under the abdomen ; transverse sticks, the 

 ends of which were fastened in the poles, kept these at a 

 proper distance, and supported the meat. This seems to be 

 the only mode of harnessing dogs, practised among the 

 Sioux ; we believe, they never use them in teams, as is cus- 

 tomary with the traders. Some of the gentlemen of the 

 party went to the Indian camp, and were rewarded for 

 their pains by eating of the swan's meat, which we had not 

 yet had an opportunity of tasting ; they found it very in- 

 different. 



The next morning, as we proceeded, the buffaloes began 

 to thicken before us ; in every direction numbers of them 

 were seen. They generally collected in herds of thou- 

 sands together, keeping at a distance from us, though 

 sometimes suffering us to approach very near to them, 

 and, in some cases, indeed, running through our line of 

 march. We stopped in the morning at a few Indian lodges, 

 which we were pleased to find were those of our acquaint- 

 ance Wanotan, the Yanktoanan chief. He invited us to 

 partake of some fresh buffalo meat, which, being obtained 

 from a fat cow, far exceeded in quality that which we had 

 tasted the preceding evening. Wanotan assured us, that 

 from the information which he had obtained, he thought 

 we would not meet with any Dacotas after passing the 

 Bois des Sioux, a small grove at a distance, and beyond 

 which we expected to encamp that night. Some of the 

 gentlemen having expressed a desire to see the chief hunt 

 the buffalo with his bow and arrow, he complied with 

 their request. In the mean while, the body of the party 

 continued their route, crossed the dry bed of Sioux River, 

 arid proceeded as far as the Bois des Sioux, where they 



