168 



with a spoon, throwing in a handful of corn, if 

 they have it, with a small quantity of bear's oil; 

 but make use of no seasoning of any kind. When 

 it is ready to eat, the whole company, with ten 

 or fifteen dogs, gather round it, and each one 

 strives to get his share. They have no set times 

 for their meals, but it seems to depend on the 

 calls of hunger, and a disposition to prepare the 

 food. 



An animal is found in these plains, called le 

 prairie chein, or prairie dog. It is smaller than 

 the grey fox, and formed much like the dog. Its 

 ears are pointed and stand erect, and the whole 

 head very much resembles the dog. Its tail is 

 long, slim, and of a dun colour. It digs holes and 

 burrows in a light, loamy soil, and in the same 

 holes, a small speckled snake takes shelter, 

 which the Indians call the dog's guard. The In- 

 dians have many superstitious notions respecting 

 these dogs. The Ay-oo-wars, or Nespeirce na- 

 tion have a tradition that the human race sprang 

 from this dog and the beaver. All other nations : 

 hold them in great veneration. A kind of deer i 

 were frequently killed here, called mule deer. It 

 is smaller and of a darker colour than the red j 

 deer, having large, branched horns. The ears ; 

 •are very large ; the tail about five inches long, 

 with short dark hair, and at the end, a tuft com- 

 posed of long, black hair. A species of the- 

 badger, called prarow, inhabits these plains. Its 

 head much resembles the dog j legs short andi 



