THE FORMER RANGE OF THE BUFFALO. 89 
of that which they would procure from sheep, if they had them in 
the country.” * | 
Father Rasles also describes the occupations of the women. 
“ They toil like slaves from morning till night. It is their duty 
during summer to cultivate the earth and plant the Indian corn ; 
and from the commencement of winter they are occupied in man- 
ufacturing mats, dressing skins, and many other works of the 
kind, for their first care is to provide everything that is necessary 
for their cabin.” t 
In the chase of the buffalo the Indian relied mainly upon his 
bow and arrow. The Indians of that period were very expert in 
their use. The little bow and the tiny arrow, pointed with the 
little flint arrow-heads found everywhere over our state, was 
placed in the hands of Indian boys who ranged among the hills, 
practising upon small birds, and “ they became so skilful that 
at ten or twelve years of age they scarcely ever failed to kill the 
bird at which they aimed.” { 
Little boys of the Sioux nation, were thus early taught the use 
of the bow, and, also, “shot small sun-fish with a bow and an ar- 
row, with a little spear fastened to it.” § The Illinois were in the 
habit of shooting fish with the bow and arrow. ‘They embarked 
in a canoe with their bows and arrows; standing upright, for the 
purpose of more easily seeing the fish, as soon as they perceived 
it, they pierced it with an arrow.”|| I have no doubt but that the 
Indian boys of Ilinois also shot the sun-fish with the bow and 
arrow. 
Father Marquette described the Illinois Indians as ‘ well-formed, 
nimble, and very adroit in using the bow and arrow.” Allouez 
bears testimony upon the same point, ‘‘ they ordinarily carry only 
the war-club, bow, and quiver full of arrows, which they discharge 
so adroitly and quickly that men armed with guns have hardly time 
to raise them to their shoulders. They also carry a large buckler 
made of the skins of wild-cattle ; which is arrow proof and covers 
the whole body.” § 
From Father Rasles, we learn the character of the arrows, and 
*Kip. Early Jesuit Missions. p. 199. 
t Ibid. 38. 
t Ibid 26. 
§ History, Condition, Prospects etc. Schoodleraft, Vol. 4. p.61. 
jl Barly Jesuit Missions, Kip. p. 40. : 
T Dis. and Ez. of Miss. J. G. Shea, p. 75. 
