The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-08-14
Life Among the Indians.


Life Among the Hndi"ns.
Taking Horses and Buffalo By the
L0ssO-- Periious u1,enfure-t freed
by a hrrd-fearfa suspense!
Among the enjoyments of my youth,
memory turns with more fondness TO
none than those experienced in the
Western wilds, far from the scenes
of civilized life, where, in company
with the native red man, almost as
wild as the game we pursued, | gave
myself up to the pleasure of the
chase. On some occasions, when
gaining the summit of some lofty en-
inence, and taking survey of i'm
mense tracts of prairie, seemingly
bounded only by the sky, | have
seen thousands of buffalo herdcd to-
geth.r, feeding on the tender grass
while deer, turkeys, and prairie hens,
in equal abundance, added variety
and animation to the scene. The
hunter, with such variety of game
before him, selects according TO his
fancy, his circumstances, or his ul-
terror purposes.
The common mode Of taking game
is by the rifle; but occasionally a
novel mode, partaking largely of the
spirit of sport, is adventured-the
capture Of wild animals by the lasso,
especially employed for the purpose
of taking horses, which are caught
to be used for the saddle.
shall never forget the thrill Of
Joy with which | received the annun-
citation, one afternoon, that the hun
tiers next day would have a grand
hunt for horses. | was so overioyed
with the promise of the novel sport,
that sleep departed from my eyelids,
and the night wore tediously away.
But morning at length came, calm
and fair. The camp was all stir ana
hustle. Soon party Of three hun
dred Indians were mounted in their
best style, each armed with lasso
This instrument of capture is a rope
made of strips Of buffalo skin, Gu,
lengthwise, after the hair is taker
off, sewed together with sinews
The length may be about two hun.
dred feet. In one end is a moose
and at the other is a large knot
which the hunter takes in his left
hand, coiling the lasso on lis arm
Starting in the direction pointed on,
by the guide, and riding a few miles
through one of those vast prairies
SO common along Red river we dis.
covered the object of our search, q
herd of wild horses, three or fou,
hundred in number. Immediately
the Indians hanked off, right and
left, forming a circle several miles
in extent, those in the centre re-
naming stationary until the circle
was formed, when all moved towards
the centre. The wild horses soon
took fright, ran from side to side
and being foiled in the attempt to
pass oar lines, commenced running
in circles, near the lines. As we
advanced, the circle contracting ev-
cry moment, the horses at length
came to stand, when we charged
suddenly upon them, and succeeded
in capturing forty-three.
Among these groups of wild hor-
SEES, may be found the heavy draught
horse the saddle and buggy horse,
the courser and the pony-every d.
vcrsity Of form, color, size, and spi-
rit. It's thus that nature has stock
ed this delightful country with ami.
mails so useful to man, giving at the
same time a climate so congenial,
and soil so fertile, as to furnish
pasture at all seasons of the year, in
rich and full abundance to support
the innumerable herds of horses,
buffalo, elk, deer, sc.
The sport of the hunter is so ras-
cinating, the exquisite pleasure of
taking game with the rifle, the lasso,
the pitfall, and the chase, is so ex-
hilarating, that The strong desire
rushes over the participant to live
over again the same scenes.
Although the lasso is principally
designed for the capture of hor-
ses alive, without seriously injuring
them, it is sometimes employed in
taking the buffalo. The chase is on
horseback. When herd is discov-
cred, dashiog pursuit at full gallop
is made by the whole party. The
calves soon become tired and are
left distance behind. Each hum
ter then selects his victim, makes a
charge, and throws the moose
over the head Of a calf, which being
fatigued by the chase, soon becomes
docile, and may be led to the camp.
Often, when after a pleasant tide of
an hour or two, have been success
full in dropping my lasso over the
head of a fine fat calf, have | shout
ed with delight, returning to the
camp with my vrize.
On one of orr hunting excursions,