310 



UNITED STATES. 



at the distance of one hundred feet from the pound. 

 These lines of trees are lengthened out by a number of 

 poles about fifteen feet long, with a piece of buffalo- 

 dung on the top of each, whilst a certain number of 

 men lie concealed in buffalo-skins, to drive the ani- 

 mals in a straight direction to the pound. 



Every preparation being made, three or four men 

 set off on foot to find a herd of female buffaloes, 

 and having discovered them, they drive them along 

 to the neighbourhood of the pound ; when the other 

 Indians assemble on horseback, but keep at a pro- 

 per distance so as not to frighten the animals. Thus 

 they are conducted within the poles, and when any 

 of them attempt to run out, the men who are placed 

 at the bottom of each pole shake their skins, and 

 frighten them back, till at length they are driven up 

 the bank into the pound ; whence falling headlong, 

 some break their necks, some their backs, and others 

 their legs, and the confusion within becomes so gene- 

 ral, that none of them can make an escape. 



The uses of these animals are various. Powder- 

 flasks are made of their horns. The skins are very 

 ^valuable ; in old times the Indians made of them the 

 best targets. When dressed they form an excellent 

 buff ; the Indians dress them with the hair on, and 

 clothe themselves with them ; the Europeans of 

 Louisiana use them for blankets, and find them light, 

 warm, and soft. The flesh is a considerable article 

 of food, and the bunch on the back is esteemed a very 

 great delicacy. The bulls become excessively fat, 

 and yield great quantity of tallow, a hundred and 

 fifty pounds weight has been got from a single beast, 

 which forms a considerable matter of commerce. 



