264 



ELK. 



only with his horns, but also by striking violently 

 with his fore feet, in the use of which he is so 

 dextrous as easily to kill a dog, or even a wolf, 

 at a single blow. 



The chace of the Elk or Moose forms an impor- 

 tant occupation among the natives of North Ame- 

 rica, and is performed in different methods. First, 

 before the rivers and lakes are frozen ; when mul- 

 titudes of the savages assemble in their canoes, 

 and form with them a vast crescent, each horn 

 touching the shore. Another party perform their 

 share of the chace among the woods ; surrounding 

 an extensive tract, letting loose their dogs, and 

 pressing towards the water with loud cries. The 

 animals, alarmed by the noise, fly before the hun- 

 ters, and plunge into the lake, where they are 

 killed by the persons in the canoes, prepared for 

 their reception, with lances and clubs. 



The other method is more artful. Tlie savages 

 enclose a large space with stakes, hedged with 

 branches of trees, forming two sides of a triangle: 

 the bottom opens into a second space completely 

 triangular. At the opening are hung numbers of 

 snares made of slips of raw hides. The Indians, 

 as before, assemble in great troops, and with all 

 kinds of noises drive into the first in closure not 

 only the Mooses, but the other kinds of deer which 

 abound in the country : some in forcing their way 

 into the farthest triangle are caught in the snares 

 by the neck or horns ; and those which escape the 

 snares, and pass the little opening, find their fate 

 from the arrows directed at them from all quarters. 



