350 INDIANS. 



The possession by Indians of excellent firearms has 

 greatly diminished the use of the bow. But ammunition 

 may be scarce, or the gun itself get out of order, and, as 

 he cannot repair it, he has then to take to his bow, until he 

 can find some white man to fix the gun for him. Many 

 Indians are too poor to buy a gun, and have not been 

 lucky enough to kill a man who had one. These use the 

 bow, as also do all the boys ; so that, however rich and 

 well armed a band may be, the bow is even yet an 

 indispensable possession of every male Indian. 



The partial introduction of firearms has relieved the 

 warrior of a great portion of his former employment, but 

 he has no sense of generosity or other inward monitor to 

 indicate to him that he ought in turn to relieve the 

 woman of some portion of her labour. 



In his natural condition the Indian is a true son of 

 Ishmael, his ' hand is against every man.' Whether his 

 disposition has undergone any change is a question, but 

 the long range breech-loading rifle has certainly modified 

 his habits. He is not nearly so fond of war as he was in 

 the 'good old times,' the game being greatly more 

 dangerous. The policy pursued by the Government 

 tends, however, to keep alive a warlike spirit, by 

 encouraging acts of aggression. The Indians are half 

 starved on reservations, and exposed to the amiable 

 attention of whisky sellers, until too poor to stand it 

 longer. They then break out. Sending their families to 

 the Staked Plains, or some other almost inaccessible 

 refuge, they make dashes and raids on the exposed 

 frontier settlements, killing people and carrying off all the 

 stock they can lay their hands on. 



When they have stolen enough to re-start them com- 

 fortably, or when too closely pursued by the troops, they 

 either send a messenger to their agent or, avoiding the 

 troops, slip back into the reservation, and declare their 

 willingness to make peace. The proposition is not only 

 eagerly accepted by the Department, but the new treaty 



