an 

296 B. N. A. BOUNDARY COMMISSION. Baty 
Bays : a 
tively small proportion of the robes obtained by these people, find their 
way to Winnipeg; most of the trade being carried on toward the 
Missouri. The summer hunt is chiefly to obtain pemican meat, the skins x 
of the buffalo killed being frequently wasted, In the autumn and early — 
winter, when the skins are prime, robes are the chief object. The Indians, 
though some of them are friendly to these half-breeds, and glad enough 
to trade with them, are naturally jealous of their hunting, and slaughter- 
ing buffalo for themselves. In July last, the ‘Big Camp’ consisted of 
over two hundred tepees, most of them of dressed skin, like those — 
} 
ha” 
‘ 
of the Indians, but some of canvas. Every family owns carts, at least 
equal to in number to that of its members; and when the camp is 
made, these are arranged in a circle, to form a ‘corral’ for the 
horses; the tents being pitched round the whole. The total number — 
of horses possessed by the camp was stated to be about 2,000, valued 
at from $20 to $100, according to their aptitude in buffalo running. 
A few weeks before our arrival, the half-breeds had been in the Cy- 
press Hills, and had there assisted, or countenanced, the Sioux in a- 
fight with the Blackfeet, in which eight of the latter tribe were killed. 
The camp is assiduously guarded, to prevent surprise or horse stealing. 
697. From what I could learn, I believe, that at the present rate of 
extermination, twelve to fourteen years will see the destruction of what 
now remains of the great northern band of buffalo, and the termination of 
the trade in robes and pemican, in so far as regards the country north of 
the Missouri River. 
698. Westward from the Milk River, the infertile Cretaceous clays 
do not recur, the country being based on the Lignite Tertiary. To the 
base of the Kast Butte, the surface, though not of the same desert charac- 
ter as that met with east of Milk River, is covered by a short, thin sod 
only, and is in many places stony also. The unfavourable appearance of 
all this region, does not arise so much from any deficiency in the soil itself, 
as from the absence of sufficient moisture. The vegetation, in fact, 
depends chiefly on the saturation of the ground by the water of the 
melting snow, and spring rains; and, when this is exhausted, is brought 
to an end as effectually as if by the onset of winter, though long before — 
that event. 
699. The general appearance and extent of the Sweet Grass Hills, or 
Three Buttes, have already been noticed (§ 303.) Their height and 
mass is sufficient to cause the formation and arrest of clouds in their im- 
mediate vicinity, where the rainfall isin consequence much more copious. 
