142 



GAME. 



were now so plentiful that skinning became arduous labour. 

 Little care was taken ; the skins, jerked off in any way, 

 were frequently torn. The curer left flesh on, or failed 

 to stretch them properly, and they spoiled. In the crop 

 of 1873 one hide delivered represents two dead buffalo. 



As the game became scarce, more attention was paid 

 to all details ; and in 1874, and up to this time, so much 

 care is taken by the best hunting parties, that 100 

 skins delivered in market during that and the last 

 year represent 125 dead buffalo. No parties have ever 

 got the proportion lower than this, and it is therefore not 

 a fair average. To avoid overestimating, I have in 

 every case taken the lowest figures : 



It is much more difficult to estimate the number of 

 dead buffalo represented by the Indian tanned skins, or 

 robes, sent to market. This number varies with the dif- 

 ferent tribes, and their greater or less contact with the 

 whites. 



Thus the Cheyennes, Arrapahoes, and Kiowas of the 

 Southern plains, having less contact with whites, use skins 

 for their lodges, clothing, bedding, par-fleches, saddles, 

 lariats, for almost everything. The number of robes 

 sent to market represents only what we may call the 

 foreign exchange of these tribes, and is really not more 

 than one-tenth of the skins taken. To be well within 

 bounds I will assume that one robe sent to market by 

 these Indians represents only six dead buffalo. 



Those bands of Sioux who live at the Agencies, and 

 whose peltries are taken to market by the Union Pacific 



