438 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1887. 



from the thickest portions, as rawhide; ropes, made up as rawhide; 

 clothing of many kinds; bags for use in traveling; coffins, or winding 

 sheets for the dead, etc. 



Other portions utilized were sinews, which furnished fiber for ropes, 

 thread, bow-strings, snow-shoe webs, etc. ; hair, which was sometimes 

 made into belts and ornaments ; " buffalo chips," which formed a valua- 

 ble and highly-prized fuel; bones, from which many articles of use and 

 ornament were made; horns, which were made into spoons, drinking 

 vessels, etc. 



After the United States Government began to support the buffalo- 

 hunting Indians with annuities and supplies, the woolen blanket and 

 canvas tent took the pjlace of the buffalo robe and the skin-covered 

 teepee, and u Government beef" took the place of buffalo meat. But 

 the slaughter of buffaloes went on just the same, and the robes and hides 

 taken were traded for useless and often harmful luxuries, such as canned 

 provisions, fancy knickknacks, whisky, fire-arms of the most approved 

 pattern, and quantities of fixed ammunition. During the last ten years 

 of the existence of the herds it is an open question whether the buffalo 

 did not do our Indians more harm than good. Amongst the Crows, who 

 were liberally provided for by the Government, horse racing was a com- 

 mon pastime, and the stakes were usually dressed buffalo robes.* 



The total disappearance of the buffalo has made no perceptible differ- 

 ence in the annual cost of the Indians to the Government. During the 

 years when buffaloes were numerous and robes for the purchase of fire- 

 arms and cartridges were plentiful, Indian wars were frequent, and 

 always costly to the Government. The Indians were then quite inde- 

 pendent, because they could take the war path at any time and live on 

 buffalo indefinitely. Now, the case is very different. The last time 

 Sitting Bull went on the war-path and was driven up into Manitoba, 

 he had the doubtful pleasure of living on his ponies and dogs until he 

 became utterly starved out. Since his last escapade, the Sioux have 

 been compelled to admit that the game is up and the war-path is open 

 to them no longer. Should they wish to do otherwise they know that 

 they could survive only by killing cattle, and cattle that are guarded 

 by cow-boys and ranchmen are no man's game. Therefore, while we no 

 longer have to pay for an annual campaign in force against hostile In- 

 dians, the total absence of the buffalo brings upon the nation the entire 

 support of the Indian, and the cash outlay each year is as great as ever. 



The value of the American bison to civilized man can never be cal- 

 culated, nor even fairly estimated. It may with safety be said, how- 

 ever, that it has been probably tenfold greater than most persons have 



* On one occasion, which is doubtless still remembered with bitterness by many a 

 Crow of the Custer Agency, my old friend Jim McNaney backed his horse Ogalalla 

 against the horses of the whole Crow tribe. The Crows forthwith formed a pool, 

 which consisted of a huge pile of buffalo robes, worth about $1,200, and with it 

 backed their best race-horse. He was forthwith " beaten out of sight " by Ogalalla, 

 and another grievance was registered against the whites. 



