112 THE WINXEBAGO TEIBE [eth. ANN. 37 



or hear the noise and run away. For this reason the hunters are very careful abotit 

 these two things — namely, the number of bears shot and the direction of the wind. 

 The method of hunting bears when the acorni- fall and they come to the open or 

 cleared spaces is known as the Mruci'c method. When the bears eat acorns then 

 only is it easy to find them and kill them without much effort. 



Description of a buffalo hunt. — ^^'hene^•er the Winnebago went buffalo hunting, 

 they always went in large numbers, for the people used to say that on a buffalo hunt, 

 they are likely to encounter their enemies and a fight might take place. It is even 

 said that some people went purposely for the fighting. They generally went together 

 with the Homa^iw i Missouri ?), Waxotcera, Iowa, and Wadjohdjadjera, the Oto. 

 Many women accompanied them. It is said that they could always tell where the buf- 

 falo were by the dust they encountered, for the dust raised by the trampling of the 

 buffalo rose high in the air. They would always start out for the buffalo early in the 

 morning on fast horses and try to ride up along the right side of the female buffalo, 

 for they only killed the bulls aftenvard. They shot the buffalo with bow and arrows. 

 WTien riding horseback, the bow is always drawn back with the right hand. The 

 reason they try to kill the female buffalo first is because they always run away while 

 the bulls do not. 



While him ting the buffalo they were always bound to meet some of their enemies 

 and a fight would ensue, so that when they returned, they would bring back not only 

 buffalo but also scalps, and immediately after their rettu^ the Victory Dance would 

 be celebrated. 



A different account of a buffalo hunt was obtained from another 

 informant (J. H.) : * 



Whenever we go on a buffalo hunt we camp in a circle, with the soldiers in front. 

 They always carried long poles to be used in the construction of tipis. [This statement 

 was made by a number of persons whose information was generally accurate. As 

 they were bound for the open prairie where there was a scarcity of wood, buffalo 

 maniu"e was always carried for fuel.] 



As soon as the chief decided to go on a hunt he gave a feast [war feast] to which he 

 invited everyone. This was generally in June. As soon as the feast was over a hunting 

 council was held. Then the chief appointed public criers who went around the 

 village announcing the time for starting, etc. Then all went to the lodge of the chief 

 of the Bear clan. There the ten best warriors were selected, who were to go ahead 

 of the main body and reconnoiter for both buffalo and enemies. These started immedi- 

 ately and if they returned with the news that they had found many buffalo and enemy 

 at the same time, fights frequently took place. Ten warriors always went ahead and 

 the old warriors generally stayed in the rear behind the women in order to protect 

 them better. As soon as they came to the place where the buffalo were seen they 

 followed their trail and killed them. The flesh was cut up into large chimks, which 

 were afterwards dried on the grass. Then when they had enough they all returned 

 home, observing, of course, the same order of march as when they started. When 

 they reached their home they gave another war feast at which all thanked the spirits 

 for their successful return. 



Pigeon hunt. — The pigeons are " chief * birds and they would be hunted when- 

 ever the chief decided to give the chief feast. The entire tribe was always invited 

 to participate in the meal served, so that many pigeons were needed. The pigeons 

 generally make their nests near human habitations. Sometimes there would be 20 



<As his grandfather was a Dakota, J. H. may have confused in his account Dakota customs with those of 

 the Winnebago. Apart from this consideration, it should be said that J. H. was an exceedingly unreliable 

 informant. 



' They are called " chief " birds because the pigeon belongs to the same division as does the Thunder- 

 bird, or Chief , clan. 



