APPENDIX. 433 



wliich is natural to all liuntcrs, and witli an improvidence wliich 

 always attends these excursions, the animal is frequently killed 

 without any necessity, and no other part of them is preserved 

 but the tongue. 



There is something extremely novel and interesting in this 

 pursuit. The immense plains, extending as far as the eye can 

 reach, are spotted here and there with droves of bufE^does. The 

 distance and the absence of known objects render it difficult to 

 estimate the size or the number of these animals. The hunters 

 approach cautiously, keeping to the leeward, lest the buffaloes, 

 whose scent is very acute, should observe them. The moment a 

 gun is fired, the buffaloes scatter and scour the field in every 

 direction. Unwieldy as they appear, they move with consider- 

 able celerity. It is difl&cult to divert them from their course, and 

 the attempt is always hazardous. One of our party barely escaped 

 with his life from this act of temerity. The hunters, who are 

 stationed upon different parts of the plain, fire as the animals 

 pass them. The repeated discharge of guns in every direction, 

 the shouts of those who are engaged in the pursuit, and the sight 

 of the buffaloes at full speed on every side, give an animation to 

 the scene which is rarely equalled. 



The droves which we saw were comparatively small. Some of 

 the party whom we found at St. Peter's, and who arrived at that 

 place by land from the Council Bluffs, estimated one of the droves 

 which they saw to contain two thousand buffaloes. 



As we approached this part of the country, our Chippewa 

 friends became cautious and observing. The flag of the United 

 States was flying upon all our canoes, and, thanks to the character 

 which our country acquired by the events of the last war, I found 

 in our progress through the whole Indian country, after we had 

 once left the great line of communication, that this flag was a 

 passport which rendered our journey safe. We consequently felt 

 assured that no wandering party of the Sioux would attack even 

 their enemies, while under our protection. But the Chippewas 

 could not appreciate the influence which the American flag would 

 have upon other nations, nor is it probable that they estimated 

 Avith much accuracy the motives which induced us to assume the 

 character of an umpire. 



The Chippewas landed occasionally to examine whether any 

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