The Bison 159 



the depoLiille, are taken out. Then the ribs are 

 broken off at the vertebrse, as well as the boss 

 bones. The marrow-bones, which are those of 

 the fore and hind legs only, are cut out last. 

 The feet usually remain attached to these ; the 

 paunch is stripped of its covering of layers of fat, 

 the head and backbone are left to the wolves. 

 The pipes are all emptied, the hands, faces, and 

 clothes all bloody, and now a glass of grog is 

 often enjoyed, as the stripping off the skin and 

 flesh of three or four animals is truly very hard 

 work. . . . When the wind is high, and the buf- 

 faloes run toward it, the hunters' guns often snap, 

 and it is during their exertions to replenish their 

 pans that the powder flies and sticks to the mois- 

 ture every moment accumulating on their faces ; 

 but nothing stops these daring and usually pow- 

 erful men, who, the moment the chase is ended, 

 leap from their horses, let them graze, and begin 

 their butcher-like work." 



The Indian and the half-breed killed the buf- 

 falo for their support, — for food, clothing, shelter, 

 and many of their implements. The civilized 

 buffalo skinner exterminated it for its hides. 

 There was another class which did something 

 toward wiping out the buffalo, yet the numbers 



