HUNTING BUFFALOES. 45 



During my stay, I went to some hunter's tents 

 on the plains, and saw them kill the buffaloe^ by 

 crawling on the snow, and pushing their guns 

 before them, and this for a considerable dis- 

 tance till they got very near the band. Their 

 approach to the animals was like the appearance 

 of wolves, which generally hover round them 

 to devour the leg- wearied and the wounded ; 

 and they killed three before the herd fled. But 

 in hunting the buffaloes for provisions it affords 

 great diversion to pursue them on horseback. I 

 once accompanied two expert hunters to witness 

 this mode of killing them. It was in the spring: 

 at this season the bulls follow the bands of cows 

 in the rear on their return to the south, whereas 

 in the beginning of the winter, in their migra- 

 tion to the north, they preceded them and led 

 the way. We fell in with a herd of about forty, 

 on an extensive prarie. They were covering 

 the retreat of the cows. As soon as our horses 

 espied them they shewed great spirit, and be- 

 came as eager to chase them as I have under- 

 stood the old English hunter is to follow the 

 fox-hounds in breaking cover. The buffaloes 

 were grazing, and did not start till we ap- 

 proached within about half a mile of them, when 

 they all cantered off in nearly a compact body. 

 We immediately threw the reins upon the 



