The Last of the Buffalo 



which . the buffalo had passed ; and over 

 these poles hung robes, so as entirely to 

 conceal the outer world. Then the butch- 

 ering of the animals took place. 



Farther to the south, out on the prairie, 

 where timber and rocks and brush were 

 not obtainable for making traps like these, 

 simpler but less effective methods were 

 adopted. The people would go out on 

 the prairie, and conceal themselves in a 

 great circle open on one side. Then 

 some man would approach the buffalo, and 

 decoy them into the circle. Men would 

 now show themselves at different points, 

 and start the buffalo running in a circle, 

 yelling and waving robes to keep them 

 from approaching, or trying to break 

 through, the ring of men. This had to 

 be done with great judgment, however; 

 for often if the herd got started in one di- 

 rection it was impossible to turn it, and it 

 would rush through the ring, and none 

 would be secured. Sometimes if a herd 

 was found in a favorable position, and there 

 was no wind, a large camp of people would 

 set up their lodges all about the buffalo, in 

 which case the chances of success in the 

 surround were greatly increased. 



The tribes which used the piskun also 

 practised driving the buffalo over high, 



237 



