BUFFALO. 293 



its hoofs to get at the dry grass underneath. The 

 Buffalo has been known to hve over twenty-five years in 

 captivity. 



The fur or hair is very warm, and was much prized 

 and used by the Eed Indians for robes, tent-coverings, 

 boats, mocassins, etc. ; by the white man it was con- 

 sidered as the most serviceable sleigh-robe, even if not 

 the warmest. 



Dr. Eichardson says that the hair has been woven 

 into excellent cloths or wrappers ; a Company was 

 started in 1822 at Winnipeg, called the Buffalo Wool 

 Company, the capital of £2,000 was nearly subscribed, 

 but the Company soon became bankrupt. 



The yearly collection of Buffalo robes was very 

 large; in Catlin's time it reached 150,000 to 200,000 

 annually; subsequently the quantity fell to 130,000. 

 One firm, that of Pierre Chouteau and Co., collected 

 alone 50,000 annually. The Hudson's Bay Company's 

 collection amounted to about 30,000 per annum ; these 

 were usually sold in Montreal. In 1879 the collection in 

 the United States was 50,000 robes. In the same year 

 2,239 raw Buffalo skins were imported into London, 

 besides 439 dressed robes. The former sold at 6s. to 10s. 

 each, but since that date no raw skins have been sent. 

 In 1885 only 1,000 skins were collected in the North-west. 



This extensive trade has now entirely ceased. 



The North American Indian excelled all others in 

 dressing these skins. The hides were first steeped in a 

 liquid, they were then shaved with the scapula bone of 

 the Buffalo, the squaws rubbing in the brains at the 

 same time to soften it. Beautiful designs and figures 

 were often painted on the skins. 



The price of a Buffalo robe was about 20s. to 35s. ; 

 the few now collected realize about £4. 



