DBNIG] THE ASSINIBOIN 555 



Weapons. — Firearms are certainly much valued by warriors. In- 

 deed, they are the principal arms, but bows and arrows are used 

 fully as much by mounted men. Tbe difficulty appears to be the 

 loading of the gun on horseback. If possible they carry both on 

 their war expeditions, also some are armed with lances, war clubs. 

 and battle axes. The last three instruments are used only in 

 melees at close quarters. Indians are often so situated in battle that 

 neither gun nor bow can be used, and in these emergencies the tools 

 last mentioned stand them in great need. Guns are therefore only 

 additional weapons, aiding and facilitating their mutual destruc- 

 tion, but have by no means been substituted altogether for the bow 

 and arrow. The metal arrow point is superior to the flint one for- 

 merly used, and more easily procured. The arrows for battle are 

 barbed and tied on loosely, so that an attempt to withdraw the arrow 

 invariably leaves the iron in the wound, which makes many of their 

 wounds dangerous that would not be so if the metal could be 

 extracted. 



The stone war club is the most efficient weapon in battle of any 

 we know of. A drawing of one is shown in Plate 65. The weight 

 of the stone is about 5 pounds. The handle is made of elastic sinew 

 and can not be broken. Any attempt to ward off the blow must 

 be attended with a broken arm, and if the stroke is not fended 

 the strongest man must fall beneath it. Tomahawk and battle axes 

 are not thrown at their enemies, as generally represented, but are 

 secured to the wrist by a strong cord, and only used at close quarters ; 

 as also the lance and knife. The scalping knife is of English manu- 

 facture, a logwood or Brazil wood handle, and soft steel blade about 

 8 inches long and IV2 inches wide, sharp on one edge, and with the 

 point turned like a butcher knife. These are the kinds of knives 

 mostly used by all Indians for hunting and all purposes, though 

 Willson's butcher, Cartouche, eye dagues, and other knives can be 

 had. Most Indians at all times carry knives of some kfnd and scalps 

 are taken off with whatever knife they happen to be in possession of 

 at the time. 



In loading the gun in battle it is first primed from the horn, then 

 a charge of powder put in, and a few balls being held in the mouth 

 of each man, one is dropped in wet on top of the powder, without 

 any wad between or on top. In this way they load and fire very 

 quickly, four or five times in a minute, but not with a very certain 

 aim. 



When scalps are taken without loss on their side the whole party on 

 their way back paint their faces a jet black with a mixture of grease 

 and charcoal. This is the symbol of joy, and on arrival in camp 

 the scalp song is raised. The whole population turns out to meet 

 them. Whichever person the warrior touches also blacks himself 



