354 INDIANS. 



best hunters are out long before the dawn of day. If 

 several herds of buffalo are discovered, that one is selected 

 for slaughter whose position is such that the preliminary 

 manoeuvres of the surround and the shouts and shots of 

 the conflict are least likely to disturb the others. A 

 narrow valley with many lateral ravines is very favourable. 

 If the herd is on a hill, or otherwise unfavourably situated, 

 the hunters may wait for it to go to water, or by discreet 

 appearances at intervals drive it to the best spot. During 

 all this time the whole masculine portion of the band 

 capable of doing execution in the coming slaughter is 

 congregated on horseback in some adjacent ravine, out 

 of sight of the buffalo, silent and trembling with suppressed 

 excitement. The herd being in proper position, the lead- 

 ing hunters tell off the men and send them under tem- 

 porary captains to designated positions. Keeping carefully 

 concealed, these parties pour down the valley to leeward, 

 and spread gradually on each flank of the wind, until the 

 herd is surrounded except on the windward side. Seeing 

 that every man is in his proper place, and all ready, the 

 head hunter rapidly swings in a party to close the gap, 

 gives the signal, and, with a yell that would almost wake 

 the dead, the whole line dashes and closes on the game. 

 The buffalo make desperate rushes, which are met in 

 every direction by shouts and shots and circling horse- 

 men, until, utterly bewildered, they almost stand still to 

 await their fate. In a few moments the slaughter is 

 complete. A few may have broken through the cordon 

 and escaped. These are not pursued if other herds are 

 in the vicinity. 1 



1 I have never personally witnessed a surround. The above description 

 is given on the authority of white men and Indians who have assisted in 

 many. The dog-soldiers are exceedingly tenacious of their rights, and object 

 strenuously to the presence of any one who may not be punished for violation 

 of their rules. The chief dares not, without their consent, to give permis- 

 sion for any outsider to accompany the band in a surround. Those who 

 belong to the band by marriage, and a few others specially favoured, are the 

 only white men who have ever been eye-witnesses to this most exciting of 



