denio] THE ASSINIBOIN 463 



soon be perceived and destruction follow, because their increase is 

 not so great, neither were they ever so numerous. They are smaller, 

 and as more would be required they would therefore soon disappear 

 before the united hunts of all the Indians. But as they are not as 

 yet driven to hunt them they do not diminish, except the beaver, 

 which has been, in this district, destroyed by large bodies of white 

 dappers. Red foxes are not, we think, so numerous as formerly, 

 though it may be they are not so much hunted. The trading posts 

 or houses do not have the effect of diminishing or frightening away 

 the buffalo any more than the Indian camps. 



Their locations are few and hundreds of miles apart, and their 

 operations confined to within a few miles of their houses. Even 

 while we are writing thousands of buffalo can be seen by looking out 

 of the fort gates, which are quietly grazing on the opposite bluffs 

 of the Missouri, and yet this post (Fort Union) has been established 

 27 j'ears. The only good hunting grounds for elk and deer are on 

 the Yellowstone from 4 to 30 miles from the fort, beyond which 

 though there are but few Indians they are not nearly so numerous. 

 Beaver and foxes are caught every few days within one-half mile 

 to 6 miles of the fort, not in numbers, certainly, neither are they 

 very plentiful anywhere in this district. A trading post in a new 

 country may have but few buffalo the first and second years and in- 

 numerable herds the third, or vice versa. There is no rule for this. 

 The buffalo migrate and return. The. other animals are scattered 

 over an immense region of country, are difficult to kill, must be 

 hunted separately, which is dangerous on account of enemies, conse- 

 quently not followed, therefore they are not diminished. Thus no 

 person can say to a certainty which are the first to disappear. 



Perhaps the entire destruction of game would lead to the Indians 

 devoting their time to agricultural pursuits. It would force them 

 to do that or starve, but judging from their present indisposition to 

 work, and tribal organization, great distress would follow the sud- 

 den disappearance of their game and starvation thin their ranks 

 before they would apply themselves to hard labor. The Indians who 

 raise corn, etc. (Mandan, Gros Ventres, and Arikara), do not do so 

 from any scarcity of game or apprehensions on that score, but have 

 done so beyond the recollection of any trader, or even of themselves. 

 It appears to be a desire to possess something else to eat besides meat, 

 and a custom handed down to them by their forefathers. Their corn 

 is entirely different from any raised in the States, and is the real 

 original maize discovered with the continent, the seed still kept in 

 its original purity. The lal>or attendant on planting and raising 

 these crops is performed by the women, while the men hunt like the 

 surrounding tribes, work of this description as their present ideas 

 exist being a disgrace to the males. Several of the other wild 



