324 ^ THE GEOKGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLEEY. 



These fights generally begin with the dogs, and end in desperate battles amongst 

 the squaws, to the great amusement of the men. 



In speaking, just above, of the mode of moving their wigwams and changing their 

 encampments, I should have said a little more^ and should also have given to the 

 reader a sketch of one of these extraordinary scenes which I have had the good luck 

 to witness (Plate 166, No. 466) when several thousands were on the march, and fur- 

 nishing one of those laughable scenes which daily happen where so many dogs and so 

 many squaws are traveling in such a confused mass, with so many conflicting in- 

 terests and so many local and individual rights to be pertinaciously claimed and pro- 

 tected. Each horse drags his load, and each dog, i. c, each dog that will do it (and 

 there are many that will not), also dragging his wallet on a couple of poles, and each 

 squaw with her load, and all together (notwithstanding their burdens) cherishing 

 their pugnacious feelings, which often bring them into general conflict, commencing 

 usually amongst the dogs, and sure to result in fisticuffs of the women ; whilst the 

 men, riding leisurely on the right or the left, take infinite pleasure in overlooking 

 these desperate conflicts, at which they are sure to have a laugh, and in which as 

 sure never to lend a hand. — G. C. 



467. White Wolves attacking a buffalo bull. 



(Plate 113, page 257, vol. 1, Catlin's Eight Years.) 



468. White Wolves ; a parley. Painted in 1832. 



(Plate No. 114, page 258, vol. 1, Catlin's Eight Years.) 



Eed men and white have aimed destruction at the race of these animals (buffaloes), 

 and with them beasts have turned hunters of buffaloes in this country, slaying them, 

 however, in less numbers and for fftr more laudable purpose than that of selling their 

 skins. The white wolves, of which I have spoken in a former epistle, follow the 

 herds of buffaloes, as I have said, from one season to another, glutting themselves on 

 the carcasses of those that fall by the deadly shafts of their enemies, or linger with 

 disease or old age to be dispatched by these sneaking cormorants, who are ready at 

 all times kindly to relieve them from the pangs of a lingering death. 



Whilst the herd is together the wolves never attack them, as they instantly gather 

 for combined resistance, which they effectually make. But whe^ the herds are 

 traveling it often happens that an aged or wounded one lingers at a distance 

 behind, and when fairly out of sight of the herd is set upon by these voracious 

 hunters, which often gather to the number of fifty or more, and are sure at last to 

 torture him to death and use him up at a meal. The buffalo, however, is a huge and 

 furious animal, and when his retreat is cut off makes desperate and deadly resist- 

 ance, contending to the hist moment for the right of life, and oftentimes deals death 

 by wholesale to his canine assailants, which he is tossing into the air or stamping to 

 death under his feet (Plate 113, No. 467). 



During my travels in these regions I have several times come across such a gang of 

 these animals surrounding an old or a wounded bull, where it would seem from ap- 

 pearances that they had been for several days in attendance, and at intervals des- 

 perately engaged in the effort to take his life. But a short time since, as one of my 

 hunting companions and myself were returning to our encampment with our horses 

 loaded with meat, we discovered at a distance a huge bull encircled with a gang of 

 white wolves. We rode up as near as we could without driving them away, and 

 being within pistol shot we had a remarkably good view, where I sat for a few mo- 

 ments and made a sketch in my note-book (Plate 114, No. 468) ; after which we rode 

 up and gave the signal for them to disperse, which they instantly did, withdrawing 

 themselves to the distance of fifty or sixty rods, when we found, to our great sur- 

 prise, that the animal had made desperate resistance until his eyes were entirely eaten 

 out of his head, the grizzle of his nose was mostly gone, his tongue was half eaten off, 

 and the skin and flesh of his legs torn almost literally into strings. In this tattered 



