>■) 



NDI iNS Ol l 111. PLAINS 



Early explorers in the plateaus to the wesl of the 

 plains tell us that the Nez Perce* and Flathead of Idaho 

 and even the inhabitants of the Rio Grande pueblo of 

 Taos, New Mexico, made periodical hunting excursions 

 to the plains. 



To most of the Plains tribes, the introduction of the 

 European horse was a great boon. Unfortunately, 

 we have no definite information as to when and how 

 the horse was spread over the plains but it was so early 

 that it- presence is noted by some of the earliest ex- 

 plorers. It is generally assumed that by trade and by 

 the capture of horses escaping from the settlement-, 

 the various tribes quickly acquired their stock, first 

 from Mexico and the southern United State-, whence 

 the Apache. Comanche, Kiowa, and Pawnee obtained 

 them, and in turn passed them on to the north. 

 The Shoshoni and other tribes of the Plateau area were 

 also pioneers in their use. Even as early as 1754 horses 

 are reported in great numbers among the Blackfoot, 

 one of the extreme Northern Plains groups. Hence, 

 we have no detailed information as to the mode of life 

 among these tribes before the horse was introduced, 

 except what is gleaned from their tribal tradition-. 

 That the use of the horse made a great change in cul- 

 ture is quite probable. It must have stimulated 

 roving and the pursuit of the buffalo and discouraged 

 tendencies toward fixed abodes and agriculture. 



Buffalo Hunting. All Plains tribe- seem to have 

 practised cooperative hunting in an organized military- 

 like manner. This usually took the form of a surround 



