292 THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 



drifted in the hollows and ravines to a very great depth, and rendered almost entirely 

 impassable to these huge animals, which, when closely pursued by their enemies, en- 

 deavor to plunge through it, but are soon wedged in and almost unable to move, where 

 they fall an easy prey to the Indian, who runs up lightly upon his snow-shoes and drives 

 his lance to their hearts. The skins are then stripped off to be sold to the fur traders, 

 and the carcasses left to be devoured by the wolves. This is the season in which the 

 greatest number of these animals are destroyed for their robes ; they are most easily 

 killed at this time, and their hair or fur being longer and more abundant gives 

 greater value to the robe. 



The Indians generally kill and dry meat enough in the fail, when it is fat and juicy, 

 to last them through the winter ; so that they have little other object for this unlim- 

 ited slaughter amid the drifts of snow than that of procuring their robes for traffic 

 with their traders. The snow-shoes are made in a great many forms of two and three 

 feet in length and one foot or more in width, of a hoop or hoops bent around for the 

 frame, with a netting or web woven across with strings of rawhide on which the feet 

 rest, and to which they are fastened with straps somewhat like a skate. With these 

 the Indian will glide over the snow with astonishing quickness, without sinking 

 down, or scarcely leaving his track where he has gone. — G. C. 



418. Attack of the bear (grizzly) ; Indians attacking with lances on horseback. 



419. Antelope shooting ; decoyed up. 



(Plate No. 40, page 76, vol. 1, Catlin's Eight Years.) 

 The mode by which Bogard and Batiste had been entrapping the timid and saga- 

 cious antelopes was one which is frequently and successfully practiced in this coun- 

 try, and on this day had afforded them fine sport. 



The antelope of this country I believe to be different from all other known varie- 

 ties, and forms one of the most pleasing living ornaments to this western world. They 

 are seen in some places in great numbers sporting and playing about the hills and 

 dales, and often, in flocks of fifty or a hundred, will follow the boat of the descend- 

 ing voyageur, or the traveling caravan, for hours together; keeping oil" at a safe dis- 

 tance, on the right or left, galloping up and down the hills, snuffing their noses and 

 stumping their feet, as if they were endeavoring to remind the traveler of the wicked 

 trespass he was making on their own hallowed ground. 



This little animal seems to be endowed, like many other gentle and sweet-breathing 

 creatures, with an undue share of curiosity, which often leads them to destruction ; 

 and the hunter who wishes to entrap them saves himself the trouble of traveling after 

 them. When he has been discovered, he has only to elevate above the tops of the 

 grass, his red or yellow handkerchief on the end of his gun-rod (No. 419) which he sticks 

 in the ground, and to which they are sure to advance, though with great coyness and 

 caution; whilst he lies close, at a little distance, with his rifle in hand, when it is 

 quite an easy matter to make sure of two or three at a shot, which he gets in range of 

 his eye, to be pierced with one bullet. — G. C. 



420. Sioux taking muskrats, near the Saint Peter's; killing them with spears. 



Women and dogs encamped. 



421. Eatiste and I running buffalo ; mouth of Yellowstone ; a frog's leap. Painted 



in 1832. (No plate.) 



422. My turn now ; Batiste and I, and a buffalo bull. Painted in 1832. (No plate.) 



423. Dying bull in a snow-drift. (See Nos. 416, 417, for description.) 



424. Buffalo bulls fighting, in running season. Painted in 1832. 



(Plate No. 106, pages 249, 250, vol. 1, Catlin's Eight Years.) 

 The almost countless herds of these animals that are sometimes met with on these- 

 prairies have been of ten spoken of by other writers, and may yet be seen by any traveler 



