210 Expedition to the 



quarrels respecting the right of property in the prey seldom 

 occur, and it is consigned to the more fortunate individual, 

 whose weapon penetrated the most vital part. 



The chase having terminated, each Indian can trace back 

 his devious rout to the starting place, so as to recover any 

 small article he may have lost. 



This surrounding chase, the Omawhaws distinguish by 

 the name of Ta-wan-a-sa. 



A fleet horse well trained to the hunt, runs at the proper 

 distance, with the reins thrown upon his neck, parallel with the 

 bison, turns as he turns, and does not cease to exert his speed 

 until the shoulder of the animal is presented, and the fatal arrow 

 is implanted there. He then complies with the motion of his 

 rider, who leans to one side, in order to direct his course to 

 another bison. Such horses as these are reserved by their 

 owners exclusively for the chase, and are but rarely sub- 

 jected to the drudgery of carrying burdens. 



When the herd has escaped, and those that are only 

 wounded or disabled are secured, the hunters proceed to 

 flay, and cut up the slain. 



Formerly, when the chiefs possessed a greater share of 

 power than they now do, one of them would advance to- 

 wards a carcase, which struck his fancy, either from its 

 magnitude or fatness, and the rightful owner would relin- 

 quish it to him without a word ; but they now seldom put 

 the generosity of the people thus to the test. 



Some individual will usually offer his bison to the medi- 

 cine, either voluntarily, or at the request of a chief, and on 

 the succeeding day, it is cooked, and all the distinguished 

 men are invited to partake of the feast. 



In the operation of butchering, a considerable knowledge 

 of the anatomical structure of the animal is exhibited, in lay- 

 ing open the muscles properly, and extending them out into 

 the widest and most entire surfaces, by a judicious dissec- 

 tion. 



