214 THE BUFFALO CHASE 
plains they have very sensibly decreased 
within the last ten years. Nevertheless, the 
number of buffalo upon the Prairies is still 
immense. But, as they incline to migrate 
en masse from place to place, it sometimes 
happens, that, for several days’ travel together, 
not a single one is to be met with; but, in 
other places, many thousands are often seen 
at one view. 
The Indians, as well as Mexicans, hunt the 
buffalo mostly with the bow and arrows. For 
this purpose they train their fleetest horses to 
run close beside him ; and, when near enough, 
with almost unerring aim, they pierce him 
with their arrows, usually behind the short 
ribs, ranging forward, which soon disables and 
brings him to the ground. When an arrow 
has been ill-directed, or does not enter deep 
enough, and even sometimes when it has 
penetrated a vital part, but is needed to use 
again, the hunter sometimes rides up and 
draws it out while the animal is yet running. 
An athletic Indian will not unfrequently 
discharge his darts with such force, that I 
have seen them (30 inches long) wholly bu- 
ried in the body of a buffalo: and I have been 
assured by hunters that the arrows, missing 
the bones, have been known to pass entirely 
a the huge carcass and fall upon the 
oun 
The dexterity acquired by these wild hunt- 
ers in shooting the buffalo, is very surprising. 
On one occasion, upon the prairies, a party of 
Witchita Indians were encamped near us; and 
