THE WOUNDED BUFFALO. 24) 
with old bits of iron, or old knife blades. They 
are rarely expert in loading or reloading guns, 
(even if they have them,) but in the closely con- 
tested race between their horse and the animal, 
they prefer the rifle to the bow and arrow. 
‘Other: tribes follow them with patient persever- 
ance on foot, until they come within shooting 
distance, or kill them by stratagem. 
The Mandan Indians chase the buffalo in par- 
ties of from twenty to fifty, and each man is 
provided with two horses, one of which he rides, 
and the other being trained expressly for the 
chase, is led to the place where the buffaloes are 
started. The hunters are armed with bows and 
arrows, their quivers containing from thirty to 
fifty arrows according to the wealth of the owner. 
When they come in sight of their game, they 
quit the horses on which they have ridden, 
mount those led for them, ply the whip, soon 
gain the flank or even the centre of the herd, 
and shoot their arrows into the fattest, accord- 
ing to their fancy. When a buffalo has been 
shot, if the blood flows from the nose or mouth, 
he is considered mortally wounded; if not, they 
shoot a second ora third arrow into the wounded 
animal. 
The buffalo, when first started by the hunters, 
carries his tail close down between the legs; but 
‘when wounded, he switches his tail about, espe 
21 Q 
