THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 279 



but we waited in vaiu. Their numbers, however, got somewhat diminished at last, 

 and we pushed off, and successfully made our way amongst them. From the immeuse 

 numbers that had passed the river at that place, they had torn down the prairie bank 

 of fifteen feet in height so as to form a sort of road or landing place, where they all 

 in succession clambered up. Many in their turmoil had been wafted below this land- 

 ing, and, unable to regain it against the swiftness of the current, had fastened them- 

 selves along in crowds, hugging close to the high bank under which they were stand- 

 ing. As we were drifting by these, and supposing ourselves out of danger, I drew up 

 my rifle and shot one of them in the head, which tumbled into the water and brought 

 with him a hundred others, which plunged in, and in a moment were swimming 

 about our canoe, and placing it in great danger (Plate 126). No attack was made 

 upon us, and in the confusion the poor beasts knew not, perhaps, the enemy that was 

 amongst them ; but we were liable to be sunk by them, as they were furiously hook- 

 ing and climbing on to each other. I rose in my canoe, and by my gestures and 

 hallooing kept them from coming in contact with us until we were out of their 

 reach. 



This was one of the instances that I formerly spoke of, where thousands and tens 

 of thousands of these animals congregate in the running season, and move about 

 from east to west, or wherever accident or circumstances may lead them. In this 

 grand crusade no one can know the numbers that may have made the ford within a 

 few days, nor in their blind fury in such scenes would feeble man be much respected. 



During the remainder of that day we paddled onward and passed many of their 

 carcasses floating on the current or lodged on the heads of islands and sand-bars. 

 And in the vicinity of, and not far below, the grand turmoil we passed several that 

 were mired in the quicksand near the shores ; some were standing fast and half im- 

 mersed, whilst others were nearly out of sight and gasping for the last breath; 

 others were standing with all legs fast and one-half of their bodies above the water 

 and their heads sunk under it, where they had evidently remained several days; and 

 flocks of ravens and crows were covering their backs and picking the flesh from their 

 dead bodies. — G. C, pages 13 and 14, vol. 2, Catlin's Eight Years. 



401. View on Upper Missouri ; clay bluffs, twenty miles above the Mandans. 



402. View on Upper Missouri ; Nishnabottana bluffs. Painted in 1832. 



403. View on Upper Missouri; Indians encamping at sunset. Painted in 1832. 



SPORTING SCENES. 



(See also Nos. 440, 467, and 468, Mandan Buffalo Dance, near Fort 

 Union, June, 1832, Upper Missouri country.) 



MR. CATLIN'S NOTES ON THE BUFFALO AND BUFFALO HUNTING. 



Tbe buffalo berds, which graze in almost countless numbers on tbese beautiful 

 prairies, afford them an abundance of meat ; and so much is it preferred to all other 

 that the deer, the elk, and the antelope sport upon the prairies in herds in the great- 

 est security, as tbe Indians seldom kill them unless tbey want their skins for a dress. 

 The buffalo (or, more correctly speaking, bison) is a noble animal, that roams over 

 the vast prairies, from the borders of Mexico on the south to Hudson Bay on the 

 north. Their size is somewhat above that of our common bullock, and their flesb of 

 a delicious flavor, resembling and equaling tbat of fat beef. Their flesb, which is 

 easily procured, furnisbes the savages of these vast regions the means of a wholesome 

 and good subsistence, and they live almost exclusively upon it, converting the skins, 



