isr 



camped for the winter. Our encampment was in 

 a grove of cotton wood, and willows, and we 

 formed as comfortable huts as possible. Mr. 

 Pardo and myself built one for our own accom- 

 modation, with one adjoining for our horses. 



On the 3d of November, the buffaloes descended 

 from the mountains in vast droves. The plains 

 . were covered with them and with elk. The In- 

 dians hunt the buffaloe on horse back, with a bow 

 and a short spear. They ride as near as possi- 

 ble to the gang, and discharge their arrows, while 

 the animals are fighting their dogs. A wounded 

 buffaloe, if he does not fall, frequently turns upon 

 ; the hunter, who depends upon the dexterity of his 

 ahorse, which has beea trained up to the business, 

 for his escape. He then discharges more arrows, 

 and dispatches the animal with his spear. These 

 hunts are attended with considerable danger, and 

 sometimes with the loss of both horse and rider, 

 The country in which we were encamped is level 

 to the south, but to the north and west the moun- 

 tains are in sigRt, with steep ridges, approaching 

 the river ; and to the east is a large mountain,- 

 entirely insulated from the Rocky mountains, 

 called the Turtle. This mountain, with the. 

 country round it, is covered with timber. Large 

 bands of Indians encamp near it, during the win- 

 ter for the conveniency of wood. In some places 

 wood is so scarce that they perish with cold, for 

 ^want of it. 

 17* 



