412 THE DEER OF AMERICA. 



Indian process, and this, too, when the skins are from animals of 

 all ages. Even the skins of those which died in the grounds, 

 and very poor, although very thin and light, are as strong in pro- 

 portion to their thickness as those from animals in prime con- 

 dition, and prove wonderfullj' enduring when worn as slippers. 

 The grain takes a good polish, though it is easily broken by 

 rough usage. This shows that the mode of tanning did not de- 

 stroy the tenacity or durability of the Elk skins. 



I have had many Elk skins tanned for robes, when the skin 

 proves sufficiently enduring to wear out the hair, which is so 

 fragile that it is soon worn off if used as cushions or beds, though 

 the under-fur still remains. But the loss of the ends of the Ions 

 hair gives it an unsightly appearance, and it becomes of iHtle 

 value. If used carefully as a lap robe or covering, it endures 

 for a long time, and is very warm and comfortable, though if 

 the animal was in full winter coat, the burden of hair is so 

 heav}' as to make its use rather inconvenient. 



What has been already said sufficiently explains the value and 

 the uses of the skins of the common deer, the mule deer, and 

 the Columbia deer. These are indistinguishable when tanned in 

 any known mode. The skins of all our deer, then, when prop- 

 erly tanned, make fine, soft, and enduring leather, except that of 

 the Elk, which, though, pliable, is comparatively of little value 

 where strength and endui'ance are desirable. It would be inter- 

 esting to know whether the skin of the red deer of Europe, an 

 animal which possesses all the other peculiarities of Wapiti, re- 

 sembles it in this particular also. 



It is no doubt remarkable that this exceptional quality of 

 the Elk skin has been so rarely alluded to by those who have 

 bad extensive opportunities to observe it. It must be well 

 known among the Indians and the fur traders, and yet I find 

 them nowhere complaining that the Elk skin is valueless, though 

 I nowhere learn that it is purchased by the traders like the skins 

 of the other deer. Even Richardson, who so rarely overlooks 

 anything of interest, makes no mention of it, though he says the 

 skin of the antelope is considered nearly valueless by the Indians 

 and traders, and yet a string cut from the skin of the Elk 

 fifteen times as heavy as that cut from the antelope skin, is not 

 as strong, and probably would not have a hundredth part the 

 endurance when used as a string about a pack-saddle, for in- 

 stance. 



