HISTORY OF THE BISON. 71 



of chase is shown by the horsemen, who have to manoeu- 

 vre round the herd in the plains, so as to urge them 

 to enter the roadway, which is about a quarter of a mile 

 broad. When this has been accomplished, they raise loud 

 shouts, and pressing close upon the animals, to terrify them, 

 that they may rush heedlessly forward towards the snare. 

 When they have advanced as far as the men who are lying 

 in ambush, they also rise, and increase the consternation, 

 by violent shouting and firing guns. The affrighted beasts 

 having no alternative, run directly into the pound, where 

 they are quickly despatched, either with an arrow or gun." 



The herds of Bisons wander over the country in search 

 of food, usually led by a bull, most remarkable for strength 

 and fierceness. While feeding, they are often scattered 

 over a great extent of country, but when they move in 

 mass, they form a dense and almost impenetrable column, 

 which, once in motion, is scarcely to be impeded. Their 

 line of march is seldom interrupted, even by considerable 

 rivers ; across which they swim without fear or hesitation, 

 nearly in the order that they traverse the plains. When 

 flying before their pursuers, it would be in vain for the fore- 

 most to halt, or attempt to obstruct the progress of the main 

 body ; as the throng in the rear still rushing onward, the 

 leaders must advance, although destruction awaits the 

 movement. The Indians take advantage of this circum- 

 stance, to destroy great quantities of this favorite game ; 

 and, certainly, no mode could be resorted to, more affect- 

 ively destructive, nor could a more terrible devastation be 

 produced, than that of forcing a numerous herd of these 

 large animals, to leap together from the brink of a dreadful 

 precipice, upon a rocky and broken surface, a hundred 

 feet below. 



When the Indians determine to destroy Bisons in this 

 way, one of their swiftest footed and most active young men 

 is selected, who is disguised in a Bison skin, having the head, 



