INDIAN METHOD OF MAKING BOATS. 245 



the Indians in dismay and disappointment. The 

 side fences for the purpose of leading the buffa- 

 loes to the pens extend at times nearly half a 

 mile, and some of the pens cover two or three 

 hundred yards of ground. It takes much time 

 and labour to construct one of these great traps 

 or snares, as the Indians sometimes have to bring 

 timber from a considerable distance to make the 

 fences and render them strong and eflS.cient. 



The bison has several enemies : the worst is, 

 of course, man ; then comes the grizzly bear ; 

 and next, the wolf. The bear follows them and 

 succeeds in destroying a good many ; the wolf 

 hunts them in packs, and commits great havoc 

 among them, especially among the calves and 

 the cows when calving. Many buffaloes are 

 killed when they are struggling in the mire (m 

 the shores of rivers where they sometimes stick 

 fast, so that the wolves or bears can attack them 

 to advantage ; eating out their eyes and devour- 

 ing the unresisting animals by piecemeal. 



Every part of the bison is useful to the Indians, 

 and their method of making boats, by stretching 

 the raw hide over a sort of bowl-shaped frame 

 work, is well known. These boats are generally 

 made by the women, and we saw one of them at 

 the Mandan village. The horns are made into 

 drinking vessels, ladles, and spoons. The skins 

 form a good bed, or admirable covering from the 

 21* 



