In Buffalo Days 



standing the fact that most of the skin was 

 torn from his head and shoulders, appeared 

 to be looking about for something else to 

 fight. The Indian was very much afraid lest 

 the bull should discover and kill him, and 

 was greatly relieved when he finally left the 

 bear and went off to join his band. This 

 Blackfoot had never heard of Uncle Remus's 

 tales, but he imitated Brer Rabbit — laid low 

 and said nothing. 



To the Indians the buffalo was the staff of 

 life. It was their food, clothing, dwellings, 

 tools. The needs of a savage people are not 

 many, perhaps, but whatever the Indians of 

 the plains had, that the buffalo gave them. 

 It is not strange, then, that this animal was 

 reverenced by most plains tribes, nor that it 

 entered largely into their sacred ceremonies, 

 and was in a sense worshiped by them. The 

 Pawnees, in explaining their religious cus- 

 toms, say, "Through the corn and the buffalo 

 we worship the Father." The Blackfeet ask, 

 "What one of all the animals is most sacred? " 

 and the reply given is, "The buffalo." 



The robe was the Indian's winter covering 

 and his bed, while the skin, freed from the 

 179 



