TRAPPING THE BUFFALO. 243 



at the narrow end of the fannel, which is always 

 on the verge of a sudden break or precipice in 

 the prairie ten or fifteen feet deep, and is made 

 as strong as possible. When this trap is com- 

 pleted, a young man very swift of foot starts at 

 ;lay light, provided with a bison's hide and head, 

 lo cover his body and head when he approaches 

 the herd that is to be taken, on nearing which 

 lie bleats like a young buffalo calf, and makes 

 his way slowly towards the mouth of the con- 

 verging fences leading to the pen. He repeats 

 this cry at intervals, the buffaloes follow the 

 decoy, and a dozen or more of mounted Indians 

 at some distance behind the herd gallop from one 

 side to the other on both their flanks, urging 

 them by this means to enter the funnel, which 

 having done, a crowd of men, women and children 

 come and assist in frigh:tening them, and as soon 

 as they have fairly entered the road to the pen 

 beneath the precipice, the disguised Indian, still 

 bleating occasionally, runs to the edge of the 

 precipice, quickly descends, and makes his escape, 

 climbing over the barricade or fence of the pen 

 beneath, while the herd follow on till the leader 

 (probably an old bull) is forced to leap down in- 

 to the pen, and is followed by the whole herd, 

 which is thus ensnared, and easily destroyed 

 even by the women and children, as there is no 

 means of escape for them. 



