The Last of the Buffalo 



cases which served for trunks or boxes, 

 useful to contain small articles. The can- 

 non-bones and ribs were used to make 

 implements for dressing hides, the shoul- 

 der-blades lashed to sticks made hoes and 

 axes, and the ribs runners for small sledges 

 drawn by dogs. The hoofs were boiled 

 to make a glue for fastening the feathers 

 and heads on their arrows; the hair used 

 to stuff cushions, and later saddles ; strands 

 of the long black beard to ornament arti- 

 cles of wearing-apparel and implements 

 of war, such as shields and quivers. The 

 sinews lying along the back gave them 

 thread and bow-strings, and backed their 

 bows. The horns furnished spoons and 

 ladles, and ornamented their war bonnets. 

 Water buckets were made from the lining 

 of the paunch. The skin of the hind leg 

 cut off above the pastern, and again a 

 short distance above the hock, was once 

 used for a moccasin or boot. Fly-brushes 

 were made from the skin of the tail dried 

 on sticks. Knife-sheaths, quivers, bow- 

 cases, gun-covers, saddle-cloths, and a hun- 

 dred other useful and necessary articles, 

 all were furnished by the buffalo. 



The Indians killed some smaller game, 

 as elk, deer, and antelope ; but for food 

 their dependence was on the buffalo. But 

 228 



