CURIOUS METHOD OP HUNTING THE DEER. 281 



CURIOUS METHOD OF HUNTING THE DEER. 



IN the great plains between Oakinagan and Spokan, 

 says Mr. Ross Cox, there are at particular seasons num- 

 bers of small deer. The editor of Lewis and Clarke 

 classes them as antelopes ; but how much soever they 

 may resemble those animals in swiftness and shape, their 

 horns, as described by naturalists, are totally different. 

 Their flesh is sweet and delicate, and they generally go 

 in small herds. Towards the latter end of the summer 

 they are in prime condition, and at that season we had 

 some excellent sport in hunting them. The Indians, 

 however, are not satisfied with our method of taking them 

 in detail. On ascertaining the direction the deer have 

 chosen, part of their hunters take a circuit in order to 

 arrive in front of the herd, while those behind set fire 

 to the long grass, the flames of which spread with great 

 rapidity. In their flight from the devouring element 

 they are intercepted by the hunters, and, while they 

 hesitate between these dangers, great numbers fall by the 

 arrows of the Indians. 



The wolves almost rival the Indians in their manner 

 of attacking the deer. When impelled by hunger, they 

 proceed in a band to the plains in quest of food. Hav- 

 ing traced the direction which a herd have taken, they 

 form themselves into a horse-shoe line, the extreme 

 points of which they keep open on the grand ravine. 

 After some cautious manosuvring they succeed in turning 

 the progress of the deer in that direction. This object 

 effected, they begin to concentrate their ranks, and ulti- 



