IN THE OLD WEST 175 



grounds, which is a fruitful cause of war between 

 the different tribes. It is a curious fact that the 

 buiFalo retire before the whites, whilst the pres- 

 ence of Indians in their pastures appears in no 

 degree to disturb them. Wherever a few white 

 hunters are congregated in a trading post, or 

 elsewhere, so sure is it that, if they remain in the 

 same locality, the buffalo will desert the vicinity, 

 and seek pasture elsewhere. In this, the Indians 

 affirm, the wahkeitcha, or '' bad medicine," of the 

 pale-faces is very apparent ; and they ground upon 

 it their well-founded complaints of the encroach- 

 ments made upon their hunting-grounds by the 

 white hunters. 



In the winter, many of the tribes are reduced 

 to the very verge of starvation — the buffalo hav- 

 ing passed from their country into that of their 

 enemies ; when no other alternative is offered them 

 but to remain where they are and starve, or to 

 follow the game into a hostile region — a move 

 entailing war and all its horrors. 



Reckless, moreover, of the future, in order to 

 prepare robes for the traders, and to procure 

 the pernicious fire-water, they wantonly slaughter, 

 every year, vast numbers of buffalo cows (the 

 skins of which sex only are dressed), and thus add 

 to the evils in store for them. When questioned 

 on this subject, and reproached with such want 

 of foresight, they answer, that however quickly 

 the buffalo disappears, the Red Man " goes un- 



