542 TRIBES OF THE UPPER MISSOURI [bth. ann. 46 



Instruction in Hunting. — As stated in a former place, boys com- 

 mence with archery as soon as they can run about after birds and 

 rabbits, enlarging the size of the bow to suit their strength, until 

 they attain the age of 16 years, when the full-sized bow is used. 

 About this time they are taught by their father or other relations 

 the use of firearms and the different modes of approaching game. 

 At this age they may be considered fit to engage in the active labors 

 of the chase on foot, but seldom run buffalo on horseback so early. 

 About 18, however, they can hunt in every way, though before this 

 age they can and do assist in supporting their parents. Even when 

 much younger they follow to the hunt and aid in skinning and pack- 

 ing home meat. They are perhaps of more service in this way when 

 young than at a riper age, when the pursuit of war and the posses- 

 sion of women occupy the greater part of their time. Women are 

 never known to practice any part of the hunter's art when left alone. 

 They generally find some relative to remain with them when deserted 

 by their husbands, and their labor always secures them a home. 



When they desert the camp on account of some quarrel they 

 travel alone for days, subsisting on roots, berries, or fruit, if the sea- 

 son affords them, shaping their course toward the fort or some other 

 band of their own people. 



The bow and arrow is used altogether by all these tribes when 

 hunting buffalo on horseback and the Northwest shotgun is the only 

 arm employed in killing any and all game on foot. A few Sioux, 

 perhaps a dozen in the whole nation, use rifles in hunting antelope, 

 bighorn, and other small game. A warrior has if possible both gun 

 and bow. Ammunition is sold at the rate of 3 pounds of powder and 

 1 pound of balls for one buffalo robe, which is enough for a month's 

 hunting by any Indian. Traps, metallic instruments, arms, or any- 

 thing they want, also persons to repair their guns, kettles, and axes 

 and to make tools to dress robes, etc., can be furnished them at any 

 time; but they will not pay for these things. We have kept in con- 

 stant employment, mostly for their benefit, a blacksmith, a gunsmith, 

 and a tinsmith at all the forts for 20 years past and are heartily tired 

 of the business, as no profit arises from their labor. 



It is not designed hereby to produce an impression that these 

 labors have been performed by us from charitable motives, but there- 

 by to put the Indians in a position to hunt and collect skins for the 

 trade. Every Indian without a horse or gun, or only with his bow 

 and arrows is an idler; his time is a loss to us. We therefore lend 

 him a gun and furnish him with ammunition free of charge. He 

 commences hunting and realizes to us from $60 to $80 in skins that 

 would otherwise have remained upon the backs of the animals. True 

 he never returns or pays for the gun, but he has it, or some other 

 has, and it is in our active service. As long as the buffalo are as 



