TRAPPING THE BUFFALO. 243 
at the narrow end of the funnel, which is always 
on the verge of a sudden break or precipice in 
the prairie ten or fifteen feet deep, and is made 
as strong as possible. When this trap is com- 
pleted, a young man very swift of foot starts at 
daylight, provided with a bison’s hide and head, 
to cover his body and head when he approaches 
the herd that is to be taken, on nearing which 
he bleats like a young buffalo calf, and makes 
his way slowly towards the mouth of the con- 
verging fences leading to the pen. He repeats 
this cry at intervals, the buffaloes follow the 
decoy, and a dozen or more of mounted Indians 
at some distance behind the herd gallop from one 
side to the other on both their flanks, urging 
them by this means to enter the funnel, which 
having done, acrowd of men, women and children 
come and assist in frightening them, and as soon 
as they have fairly entered the road to the pen 
beneath the precipice, the disguised Indian, still 
bleating occasionally, runs to the edge of the 
precipice, quickly descends, and makes his escape, 
climbing over the barricade or fence of the pen 
beneath, while the herd follow on till the leader 
(probably an old bull) is forced to leap down in- 
to the pen, and is followed by the whole herd, 
which is thus ensnared, and easily destroyed 
even by the women and children, as tbere is no 
means of escape for them. 
