46 NARRATIVE OF A JOURNEY 



the animal. If on a plain, without grass or bushes, it is neces- 

 sary to be very circumspect ; to approach so slowly as not to 

 excite alarm, and, when observed by the animal, to imitate 

 dexterously, the clumsy motions of a young bear, or assume 

 the sneaking, prowling attitude of a wolf, in order to lull suspi- 

 cion.* 



The Indians resort to another stratagem, which is, perhaps, 

 even more successful. The skin of a calf is properly dressed, 

 with the head and legs left attached to it. The Indian envelopes 

 himself in this, and with his short bow and a brace of arrows, 

 ambles off into the very midst of a herd. When he has selected 

 such an animal as suits his fancy, he comes close alongside of it, 

 and without noise, passes an arrow through its heart. One 

 arrow is always sufficient, and it is generally delivered with such 

 force, that at least half the shaft appears through the opposite 

 side. The creature totters, and is about to fall, when the Indian 

 glides around, and draws the arrow from the wound lest it should 

 be broken. A single Indian is said to kill a great number of 

 buffaloes in this way, before any alarm is communicated to the 

 herd. 



Towards evening, on rising a hill, we were suddenly greeted 

 by a sight which seemed to astonish even the oldest amongst us. 

 The whole plain, as far as the eye could discern, was covered by 

 one enormous mass of buffalo. Our vision, at the very least 

 computation, would certainly extend ten miles, and in the whole 

 of this great space, including about eight miles in width from 

 the bluffs to the river bank, there was apparently no vista in the 

 incalculable multitude. It was truly a sight that would have 

 excited even the dullest mind to enthusiasm. Our party rode up 

 to within a few hundred yards of the edge of the herd, before any 

 alarm was communicated ; then the bulls, — which are always 

 stationed around as sentinels, — began pawing the ground, and 



* 1 have several times seen Ricliardsoii kill bufT;ilo in tiiis nianiier. 



