34 THE OX TRIBE. 



since I came into the country. During the time that I 

 resided at this post (Teton Biver) in the spring of the 

 year, on my way up the river, I assisted in bringing in, 

 in the above manner, several of these little prisoners, 

 which sometimes followed for five or six miles close to 

 our horse's heels, and even into the Fur Company's 

 Fort, and into the stable where our horses were led. In 

 this way, before I left for the head waters of the 

 Missouri, I think we had collected about a dozen, which 

 Mr. Laidlaw was successfully raising with the aid of a 

 good milch cow, and which were to be committed to 

 the care of Mr. Chouteau, to be transported, by the 

 return of the steamer, to his extensive plantation in the 

 vicinity of St. Louis." 



The uses which are made of the various parts of the 

 Bison are numerous. The hide, which is thick and 

 rather porous, is converted by the Indians into mocassins 

 for the winter ; they also make their shields of it. When 

 dressed with the hair on, it is made into clothing by 

 the natives, and most excellent blankets by the European 

 settlers; so valuable, indeed, is it esteemed, that three 

 or four pounds sterling a piece are not unfrequently 

 given for good ones in Canada, where they are used as 

 travelling cloaks. The fleece, which sometimes weighs 

 eight pounds, is spun and wove into cloth. Stockings, 

 gloves, garters, &c., are likewise knit with it, appearing 

 and lasting as well as those made of the best sheep's 

 wool. In England it has been made into remarkably 

 fine cloth. 



" There are/' says Catlin, " by a fair calculation, 

 more than 300,000 Indians who are now subsisting on 

 the flesh of the buffaloes, and by these animals supplied 



