380 



ACCOUNT OF THE INDIANS. 



where among them. But the case is otherwise, 

 with the inhabitants of the woody countries. 

 These people have nothing with which to pur- 

 chase their necessaries, excepting the skins of ani- 

 mals, which are valuable for their fur ; and should 

 they destroy all these animals in one season, they 

 would cut off their means of subsistence. A pru- 

 dent Indian, whose lands are not well stocked with 

 animals, kills only what are absolutely necessary 

 to procure such articles as he cannot well dispense 

 with. 



The foregoing account of the Natives, having 

 a principal reference to the tribes on the east side 

 of the Rocky Mountain, it may be proper, in con- 

 cluding it, to make a few general remarks on 

 the country which they inhabit. 



That part of it which lies between the 44th 

 and the 52d degrees of north latitude, is a plain 

 or prairie country, almost wholly destitute of tim- 

 ber, of any kind. It is, in general, sufficiently dry 

 for any kind of cultivation ; and is covered with 

 grass, which commonly grows to the height of 

 from six inches to a foot, though in some marshy 

 places it is much higher. This grass furnishes 

 food for innumerable herds of buffaloes, which are 

 constantly roving about, from place to place, fol- 

 lowed by thousands of wolves, and many grey and 



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