SCENES IN BUFFALO HUNTING. 221 



his face, that disphiycd no great pleasure at the Indian's 

 appearance and company. 



Among the Indian tribes there are certain styles of 

 doing things, which are as essential to command the at- 

 tention and win the favor of a real hunter, as there are 

 peculiar manners and modes commended, and only ac- 

 knowledged, by sportsmen. 



A poor despicable tribe, bearing the name of Ta-wa- 

 ki-na, inhabiting the plains of Texas, kill the buffalo by 

 hamstringing them, and are, therefore, despised and 

 driven out from among the " Indian men." 



A young Comanche chief, fond of adventure, and 

 friendly with " Breeches," had gone out of his way to 

 join in our sport ; and having shown to the white man 

 his skill, and for " Breeches " his contempt for his imita- 

 tions of a despised tribe, he passed on in pursuit of his 

 own business, either of war or of pleasure. 



The experience of our first buffalo ^unt satisfied us 

 that tlie rifle was not the most effective instrument in 

 destroying the animal. The time consumed in loading 

 the rifle is suflBcient for an Indian to shoot several ar- 

 rows, while the arrow more ([uickly kills than the 

 bullet. 



As the little party to which I was attached had 

 more notions of fun than any particular method of 

 hunting, a day was set apart for a buffalo hunt, " Ta- 

 wa-ki-na fashion," and for this purj)0se rifles were laid 

 aside, and polos about seven feet long, with razor blades 



