476 EEPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1887. 



Grant * met a half-breed family on the Qu'Appelle, consisting of man, 

 wife, and seven children, whose six carts were laden with the meat and 

 robes yielded by sixty buffaloes ; that number representing this one 

 hunter's share of the spoils of the hunt. 



To afford an idea of the truly military character of those Eed Eiver 

 expeditions, I have only to quote a page from Prof. Henry Youle Hind : t 



"After the start from the settlement has been well made, and all 

 stragglers or tardy hunters have arrived, a great council is held and a 

 president elected. A number of captains are nominated by the presi- 

 dent and people jointly. The captains then proceed to appoint their 

 own policemen, the number assigned to each not exceeding ten. Their 

 duties are to see that the laws of the hunt are strictly carried out. In 

 1840, if a man ran a buffalo without permission before the general hunt 

 began, his saddle and bridle were cut to pieces for the first offense; 

 for the second offense his clothes were cut off his back. At the present 

 day these punishments are changed to a fine of 20 shillings for the first 

 offense. No gun is permitted to be fired when in the buffalo country 

 before the 'race' begins. A priest sometimes goes with the hunt, and 

 mass is then celebrated in the open prairies. 



"At night the carts are placed in the form of a circle, with the horses 

 and cattle inside the ring, and it is the duty of the captains and their 

 policemen to see that this is rightly done. All laws are proclaimed in 

 camp, and relate to the hunt alone. All camping orders are given by 

 signal, a flag being carried by the guides, who are appointed by elec- 

 tion. Each guide has his turn of one day, and no man can pass a guide 

 on duty without subjecting himself to a fine of 5 shillings. No hunter 

 can leave the camp to return home without permission, and no one is 

 permitted to stir until any animal or property of value supposed to be 

 lost is recovered. The policemen, at tbe order of their captains, can 

 seize any cart at night- fall and place it where they choose for the public 

 safety, but on the following morning they are compelled to bring it back 

 to the spot from which they moved it the previous evening. This power 

 is very necessary, in order that the horses may not be stampeded by 

 night attacks of the Sioux or other Indian tribes at war with the half- 

 breeds. A heavy fine is imposed in case of neglect in extinguishing 

 fires when the camp is broken up in the morning. 



" In sight of buffalo all the hunters are drawn up in line, the presi- 

 dent, captains, and police being a few yards in advance, restraining the 

 impatient hunters. ' Not yet ! Not j et ! ' is the subdued whisper of the 

 president. The approach to the herd is cautiously made. ' Now ! ' the 

 president exclaims ; and as the word leaves his lips the charge is made r 

 and in a few minutes the excited half-breeds are amongst the bewil- 

 dered buffalo." 



"After witnessing one buffalo hunt," says Prof. John Macoun, " I can 



* Ocean to Ocean, p. 116. 



t Assinniuoine and Saskatch. Exp. Exped., II, p. 111. 



