112 The Bison 



great numbers by the Indians, who used its flesh 

 for food, its skin for clothing and for their shelters. 

 Yet, under natural conditions, the destruction 

 which they wrought was never very extensive, 

 and was more than compensated for by the annual 

 increase. Wolves, bears, and other wild animals 

 which were found in great numbers throughout 

 the buffalo's range in old days, devoured many of 

 them ; but these were largely the aged, wounded, 

 and crippled, or those which were drowned in the 

 rivers, or mired in quicksands and mud-holes. 

 All this destruction by natural enemies did little 

 more than keep the race in good condition, by 

 cutting off the sickly and the feeble. 



When, however, the white man appeared on 

 the scene, new conditions arose. The buffalo 

 had a robe which was as useful to the white man 

 as to the Indian. A trade speedily sprang up in 

 these robes, which the Indians were glad to kill 

 and tan for a cupful of sugar, or a few charges of 

 powder and ball, or a drink or two of alcohol. 

 Now, the Indians had a motive for killing which 

 heretofore they had not had. They killed more 

 buffalo and made more robes than before, but 

 still they made no impression on the wandering 

 millions which swayed to and fro under the influ- 



