DENIO] THB ASSINIBOIN 461 



found in great numbers. Out of this question appears to us to 

 arise another, viz. Is not the decrease of the Indians from diseases 

 communicated to them through white immigration and commerce, 

 thereby reducing the number of hunters, equivalent to increasing the 

 number of buffalo? And does not the remnant of the Indians at 

 this time require fewer animals to feed, clothe, and provide all their 

 necessaries, than the multitudes before commerce was established 

 with them? We think this view merits consideration. 



If the buffaloes diminish, so do the Indians, ami the diminution is 

 not felt. The manner in which they hunted before firearms were 

 introduced (by driving the buffaloes into pens) was infinitely more 

 destructive than at present. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, were 

 necessarily killed when a camp of a few Indians was stationed and 

 when a small number would have sufficed. That commerce stimu- 

 lates them to hunt is true, and a great many buffaloes are annually 

 destroyed expressly for the hides. Yet even this destruction is lim- 

 ited. An Indian's family can only dress a certain number of hides 

 during the hunting season. The hides in their raw state are of no 

 value, and not traded, and can not be packed and carried when they 

 move, which they are obliged to do in the spring ; therefore no more 

 are killed than the Indians can handle. Besides, there are but four 

 or five months when the hair or fur of any animal is seasonable or 

 merchantable and the rest of the year only enough are killed for 

 meat, clothing, and lodges for their families. As far as we can be 

 allowed to express an opinion, would say that the Indians by diseases 

 brought about by commerce, and of late years by white immigration, 

 will diminish and perhaps be destroyed as formidable bodies long 

 before their game. The loss of Indians from smallpox, cholera, 

 measles, scarlet fever, venereal, fluxes, etc., within our own recol- 

 lection can not be estimated at less than 15,000 to 20,000, without 

 taking into consideration the consequent loss of propagation. 



Were the destruction less we think it would have the effect of 

 increasing these animals so that many must die for want of proper 

 grazing or be forced to seek other lands for food. This would rein- 

 state us in our first position, that it is more probable the small num- 

 ber of Indians now in existence will disappear before their game, 

 or at least will be so reduced as not to retard their increase. Immi- 

 gration in settling the country would banish the buffalo from that 

 part of it where these movements were going on, and force them to 

 the alternative of scattering through the settlements and thus be de- 

 stroyed ; or, being confined and limited in their grazing, they would 

 die for want of sufficient nourishment. They are a shy animal and 

 will not remain where they are much troubled. Indian hunting has 

 not this effect. The Indians do not occupy the proportionate space 



