Rocky Mountains. 209 



The ceremony of smoking being performed, the word for 

 starting is given by Ongpatonga. They immediately sepa- 

 rate into two bands, who pass in full speed to the right and 

 left, and perform a considerable circuit, with the object of 

 enclosing the herd, at a considerable interval, between them. 



They then close in upon the animals, and each man en- 

 deavours to kill as many of them as his opportunity per- 

 mits. 



It is upon this occasion, that the Indians display their 

 horsemanship, and dexterity in archery. Whilst in full run. 

 they discharge the arrow with an aim of much certainty, so 

 that it penetrates the body of the animal behind the shoul- 

 der. If it should not bury itself so deeply as they wish, 

 they are often known to ride up to the enraged animal, and 

 withdraw it. They observe the direction and depth to 

 which the arrow enters, in order to ascertain whether or not 

 the wound is mortal, of which they can judge with a con- 

 siderable degree of exactness ; when a death wound is in- 

 flicted, the hunter raises a shout of exultation, to prevent 

 others from pursuing the individual of which he considers 

 himself certain. He then passes in pursuit of another, and 

 so on, until his quiver is exhausted, or the game has passed 

 beyond his further pursuit. 



The force of the arrow, when discharged by a dexterous 

 and athletic Indian, is very great, and we were even credi- 

 bly informed, that under favourable circumstances, it has 

 been known to pass entirely through the body of a bison, 

 and actually to fly some distance, or fall to the ground on 

 the opposite side of the animal. 



Notwithstanding the apparent confusion of this engage- 

 ment, and that the same animal is sometimes feathered by ar- 

 rows from different archers, before he is despatched, or consid- 

 ered mortally wounded, yet as each man knows his own arrows 

 from all others, and can also estimate the nature of the wound, 

 whether it would produce a speedy death to the animal 



vol. r. 27 



