36 



THE OX TRIBE. 



canoe along with considerable speed. These very curious 

 and rudely-constructed canoes are made in the form of 

 the Welsh coracle; and, if I mistake not, propelled in 

 the same manner, which is a very curious circumstance ; 

 inasmuch as they are found in the heart of the great 

 wilderness of America, where all the surrounding tribes 

 construct their canoes in decidedly different forms, and 

 of different materials." 



Skin Canoes of the Mandan Indians. 



It is generally agreed by travellers, that the flesh of 

 the Bison is little inferior to the beef of our domestic 

 oxen. The tongue is considered a delicacy, and the 

 hump is much esteemed. A kind of potted-beef, called 

 pemmican, is made of the flesh of the Bison, in the fol- 

 lowing manner : The flesh is spread on a skin, dried in 

 the sun, and pounded with stones; then all the hair is 

 carefully sifted out of it, and melted fat kneeded into 

 it. This, when properly made and kept dry, will keep 

 good for twelve months. The tallow of the Bison forms 

 an important article of commerce; one fat bull yielding 

 sometimes as much as 150 pounds weight. 



Mr. Turner, a gentleman long resident in America, 

 is of opinion, that the Bison is superior even to our 

 domestic cattle for the purposes of husbandry, and has 

 expressed a wish to see this animal domesticated on the 



