266 MAGNIFICENT SCENERY. 



him near the little fire, and after having put aside 

 his hunting implements, she rubs his mockasins 

 and leggings, and pulls them off; she then gives 

 him water to drink and his pipe to smoke. His 

 children assemble round him, and taking one upon 

 his knee, he proceeds to amuse it with the adven- 

 tures of the day, that his squaw may be informed 

 of them. u I have been active all the day, but the 

 Master of Life has prevented me from killing any 

 game; but never despond, my children, and your 

 mother; I may be fortunate to-morrow." He often 

 sings till midnight, even when retired to his couch, 

 while his careful wife remains awake to dry his 

 clothing. On the morrow he again sallies forth 

 before the dawn, and may soon return loaded with 

 provisions. Such is the life of a native hunter, and 

 such the privations and the pleasures to which he is 

 exposed *. 



Indian hunters often pursue their prey amid 

 the rudest and most colossal scenes. Dr. James, 

 to whom I have frequently referred, observed the 

 tract of bisons through an hideous pathway so 

 hemmed in with impending rocks, that the view 

 was nearly as confined as in a subterraneous 

 passage. So dismal was the place that few ad- 

 venture to go through it, except, indeed, those 

 bold and enterprising men who delight to chase 

 the bison in his wildest recesses. But bright and 

 cheering was the scene that burst on the astonished 

 travellers, when, after ascending a steep acclivity, 

 guarded on either side with a wall of rocks which 



* From Memorandums of an American Naturalist. 



