MATTHEW BRAYTON'S NARRATIVE CONTINUED.
Hunting Buffalo -- The attack -- Cutting up the carcass --
Packing to the camp -- Drying the meat -- Buffalo hunting in
winter -- Trapping bears and wolves -- Spearing muskrats --
Dressing skins -- Different modes of fishing.
Hunting is the principal occupation of the Indians, and their only
means of subsistence. The climate does not admit the raising of crops,
even if the Indians were disposed to till the ground, which they are
not. During the fall the camps are removed to the lower part of the
British territory in order to hunt the buffalo.
To show how the buffalo are killed, I will relate my experience on one
of the hunts in which I was engaged.
Our hunting party, with the families of the hunters, traveled for
seven days before reaching the traces of any herds. A few stray bulls
were killed, and some of their flesh eaten, but it was too hard and
tough for good eating. At length we arrived at the place where there
were strong hopes of finding buffalo, and our camp was fixed. Early
next morning the hunting party rode off, leaving the squaws and
children to make arrangements for preparing the meat when it should be
brought to the camp.
After riding a short distance, we came on traces of a large herd, and
then rode forward in high spirits. We soon came in sight of some bulls
feeding quietly, and beyond them could discover a large herd of cows.
The difference between the sexes can be seen at a long distance by
their mode of herding. The bulls feed singly, and are scattered over
the prairies, whilst the cows huddle together as if for protection.
The bulls are the most savage, but the cows are the fleetest of foot,
and are very difficult to approach. Their flesh is, however, more
highly esteemed than that of the bulls, it being more tender and
juicy.
On reconnoitering the respective groups it became evident that we
could not reach the cows without first breaking through the herd of
bulls, and this we prepared to do at once. Riding slowly up so as not
to alarm them, we approached within a few hundred yards of them before
they took much notice of us. Then they ceased feeding and commenced
bellowing furiously.
At this the signal was given, and our fleet ponies were spurred
rapidly towards the herd. When close to them, each hunter singled out
a buffalo, and dashing impetuously past the animal, discharged an
arrow into its neck. Those whose arrows did not fatally wound the
beasts were at once exposed to imminent danger, as nothing exceeds a
wounded buffalo in ferocity and strength. Rising for a moment on their
hind feet, they dash furiously at the hunters, butting at them, and
attempting to upset horse and man. Sometimes they succeed, and then
the hunter suffers terrible wounds, if not death, from the horns of
the enraged animal.
Five or six bulls were killed in the attack, and the rest scattered
widely over the prairie. The sight of the immense herd of cows in the
distance excited the hunters, and prevented them from stopping to make
any use of the bulls we had killed. We rode forward at a moderate
speed for some distance, reserving the strength of our horses until we
should be compelled to use their speed. At length the scouts of the
herd saw us advancing, and in two or three seconds the whole herd was
in motion. The first movements of the buffalo are slow, increasing in
speed as they go. At the first symptoms of alarm our party raised a
shout to encourage the horses, and we were suddenly flying along at
full speed, the horses as much excited as their riders. The excitement
was intense. At last we were close to them, and the arrows flew thick
and fast into the herd. In a few moments we were in the midst of the
press, firing arrows and using spears among the animals right and
left.
The scene was full of wild excitement and not without danger. Some of
our party were thrown from their horses and suffered severe bruises
and wounds from the feet and horns of the enraged buffaloes. At last
the signal of recall was given, and our party reined up to rest from
the chase and dispose of the spoils.
After dismounting and hobbling the ponies, the hunters rested awhile
before proceeding to the work of cutting up the buffaloes in order to
take them home. When rested, the hunters began the labor of skinning
and cutting up the carcasses. The animal was first placed on its
knees, and its hind legs stretched out to their full length, so that
the principal weight lay on the belly of the beast. The small hump of
flesh about the neck was first cut out and carefully placed on one
side. The skin was next divided along the back bone, and stripped down
on either side. After this the animal was cut up in various pieces,
all the best parts being taken and the offal left for the wolves. The
fat and tallow were put in the hide, which was then slung around the
necks of the packing ponies. Along each side of the pony's back was
placed a pole, fastened to the animal's neck. The foot of the
buffalo's hind quarter was thrust through the gambril of the
forequarter, and the quarters then slung across the back of the pony
and hanging down on each side. The poles keep the burden off from the
sides of the pony, and prevent its back being broken. The other
portions of the game were carried in a similar manner.
When the meat was brought to the camp, the women cut it into long
strips, about a quarter of an inch thick. These strips were hung on
sticks to dry, which operation takes several days. When thoroughly
dried, the women bend it up and tie it into bundles, in which shape it
is preserved for home consumption or taken to the trading posts, to be
bartered for ammunition or other articles wanted by the Indians. Some
parts of the buffalo, not fitted for making the dried meat, were dried
by a very fierce fire until it became brittle. A buffalo hide was then
spread out, with the skin uppermost, and the dried pieces of meat
spread on it, and thrashed into small bits by sticks. The tallow of
the buffalo was cut up, melted and poured on the powdered meat, which
was then worked up until it became well mixed. Whilst still warm, it
was pressed into bags made of buffalo skin, which were then sown up.
When cold the mixture, known to the whites as _pemican_, becomes as
hard as a rock, and makes good eating. The marrow bones were boiled in
water for their oil, which, when extracted, was poured into the
bladder of the animal. One bladder will hold eleven or twelve pounds
of oil.
Buffalo are frequently killed in winter without any of the dangers
experienced in the fall hunt. The alternate thawing and freezing forms
a thick crust on the surface of the soft snow. The heavy animals break
through this thin crust, and plunge cumbrously into the deep snow,
whilst the Indian hunter glides easily on his snow shoes close to the
side of the unwieldly monster, and dispatches it at his ease.
Elk, reindeer, grizzly bears, wolves, with some other animals, are
killed with rifles, or arrows, frequently with the aid of dogs. The
dogs are of a strong, powerful breed and are trained to catch by the
ears or jaw, so that the fur is not injured. The elk and reindeer are
very difficult to approach, having a keen scent, and show fight if
close pressed. The attack on a grizzly bear is also dangerous, and the
hunter frequently has to fight desperately for his life.
Black bears and wolves are frequently caught by a peculiar trap. A
young sapling tree is bent down so that its top is but a few feet from
the earth. A rope, formed of pieces of raw hide firmly twisted
together, is fastened to the top of the tree and a strong double hook
of iron or steel is attached to the other end of the rope. One arm of
the hook is lightly caught in a log or a stake driven in the ground,
and on the other arm a piece of meat is firmly attached. The bear or
wolf seizes the meat, and in its endeavors to carry it off or tear it
to pieces, releases the hook from the log. The tree top suddenly flies
up, the hook catching the animal in the mouth or lip, and lifting it
partially or completely from the ground. In this position it is found
and dispatched by the hunter, when he comes to examine his traps.
Beavers are trapped in great numbers, as are martins and other
fur-bearing animals. In the depth of winter the muskrat houses are
sought out and pierced with strong and sharp spears which transfix the
muskrats and bring them out on the points.
The skins of the animals killed are dried and cured by the women. When
the hide is taken off and brought home, the women scrape off the flesh
with a bone, sharpened at one end. When the skin is thoroughly
scraped, small holes are cut all around it, and strings run through
it, which are then lashed to the poles of the lodge inside. The fire
burning in the lodge dries the skin in one night, and in the morning
it is taken down and folded so as to be packed. In dressing the skins,
the grease is taken off and the skins dipped in water containing the
brains of a deer, after which they are boiled and stretched on four
square poles tied and pushed into the ground. The skin is then scraped
with a bone and kept before a slow fire until perfectly dry. It is
then dipped in the brain water and scraped dry again, after which it
is dipped in the water a third time, and every time the water wrung
out before the skin is stretched. If it remains hairy or stiff after
all this working, it is drawn over a cord as thick as a man's finger,
as hard as the women can pull, and this softens it greatly. The skin
is next smoked. A hole is dug in the ground, about a foot deep, in
which is put a little water and some rotten wood. The skin is then
sewed in a bag and hung over the smoke for about ten minutes, when it
is ready for use.
The streams are well stocked with fish and these are caught in various
ways. Sometimes they are speared, and some are shot with arrows and
some caught by stakes arranged across the bed of the stream. When the
rivers and small lakes are frozen over in winter a hole is cut in the
ice and over it a little tent is made with three sticks and a blanket,
so as to close out the light. The Indian lies with his face over the
hole. He can then see to some depth and when a fish passes it is
pierced with a short spear and brought to the surface.
There are various other ways of hunting, trapping and fishing but
these will serve as specimens.