114 



A JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



which the badgers make in these plains, and also from the rage of 

 the buffalo, which, when closely pressed, often turns suddenly, and, 

 rushing furiously on the horse, frequently succeeds in wounding it, 

 or dismounting the rider. Whenever the animal shews this disposi- 

 tion, which the experienced hunter will readily perceive, he imme- 

 diately pulls up his horse, and goes off in another direction. 



When the buffaloes are on their guard, horses cannot be used in 

 approaching them ; but the hunter dismounts at some distance, and 

 crawls in the snow towards the herd, pushing his gun before him. 

 If the buffaloes happen to look towards him, he stops, and keeps quite 

 motionless, until their eyes are turned in another direction ; by this 

 cautious proceeding a skilful person will get so near as to be able to 

 kill two or three out of the herd. It will easily be imagined this 

 service cannot be very agreeable when the thermometer stands 30° or 

 40° below zero, as sometimes happens in this country. 



As we were returning from the tents, the dogs that were harnessed 

 to three sledges, in one of which Mr. Back was seated, set off in 

 pursuit of a buffalo-calf. Mr. Back was speedily thrown from his 

 vehicle, and had to join me in my horse-cariole. Mr. Herriot having 

 gone to recover the dogs, found them lying exhausted beside the 

 calf, which they had baited until it was as exhausted as themselves. 

 Mr. Herriot, to shew us the mode of hunting on horseback, or, as 

 the traders term it, running of the buffalo, went in chase of a cow, 

 and killed it after firing three shots. 



The buffalo is a huge and shapeless animal, quite devoid of grace 

 or beauty ; particularly awkward in running, but by no means slow ; 

 when put to his speed, he plunges through the deep snow very expe- 

 ditiously; the hair is dark brown, very shaggy, curling about the 

 head, neck, and hump, and almost covering the eye, particularly in 

 the bull, which is larger and more unsightly than the cow. The 

 most esteemed part of the animal is the hump, called by the Cana- 

 dians bos, by the Hudson's Bay people the wig ; it is merely a strong 



