The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-03-24
Aisceii
Buffalo Eunting.

In our books on natural history, are a sub
ject of curious interest and great impor-
tance in this vast wilderness; rendered
peculiarly SO at this time, like the history
of the poor savage; and from the same
consideration, that they are rapidly vast
ing away at the approach of civilized
man, and, like him and his character, in
a very few years to live only in books or
on canvas.
The word buffalo is undoubtedly most
incorrectly applied to these animals, and
we can scarcely tell why they have been
SO called; for they bear just about as
much resemblance to the eastern buffalo,
as they do to a zebra or to a common OK
How nearly they may approach to the
bison of Europe, which We never have
had an opportunity TO see, and which we
are inclined to think is now nearly ex-
tinct, We are unable to say; yet, if We
were to Judge from the numerous engrav-
ings we have seen of those animals, and
descriptions We have read of them, we
should be inclined to think that there was
yet wide difference between the bison
of the American prairies and those in the
north of Europe and Asia. The Ameri
can bison. or (as We shall hereafter call
it buffalo, is the largest of all the rumi-
mating animals that are now living in
America, and seems to have been spread
over the plains of this vast country by
the Great Spirit for the use and subsist-
ence of the red men, who live almost ex
clusively on their flesh, and clothe them
selves with their skins. Their color is
dark brown, but changing very much as
the season varies from warm to cold ;
their hair, or fur, from its great length in
the winter and spring, and exposure to
the weather, turning quite light, and al
most to a jet black when the winter coat
is shed off and new growth is shooting
out.
The buffalo bull often grows to the
enormous weight of 1000 pounds, and
shakes long and shaggy black name,
which falls in great profusion and eonfu-
sion off his head and shoulders, and often
times falling down quite to the ground.
The horns are short, but very large, and
have but one turn, t. e., they are a SIM
pie arch, without the least approach to a
spiral form, like those of the common OK,
or of the goat species.
The female is much smaller than the
male, and always distinguishable by the
peculiar shape of the horns, which are
made smaller and more crooked, turning
their points more in towards the center OF
the forehead.
One of the most remarkable character
istics of the buffalo is the peculiar form
alton and expression of the eye, the bal
of which is very large and white, and
the iris jet black. The lids of the eye
seem always to be strained quite open
and tie ball rolling forward and down, SC
that considerable part of the iris is hid
den below the lower lid, while the pure
white of the eyeball glares out over it in
an arch, in the shape of moon at The
end of its first quarter.
The almost countless herds of these
animals that are sometimes met with OIL
these prairies have been often spoken o
by other writer's, and may yet be seen BY
any traveller who will take the pains t.
visit these regions. The running sea
son." which is in August and September
is the time when they congregate into
such masses in some places as literally Il
blacken the prairies for miles together.
The chief hunting amusement of tho
Indians in these parts consists in the chast
of the buffalo, which is almost invariably
done on horseback, with bow and lance
In this exercise, which is highly prizeC
by them as one of their most valued
amusements, as we'll as for being the
principal mode for procuring meat fo
| their subsistence, they become exceed
ingly expert, and are able to slay thes(
huge animals with apparent ease.
The Indians in these parts are al
mounted on small but serviceable horses
which are caught by them in the prairies
where they are often found running wild
in numerous bands. The Indian, mount
ed on his little wild horse, which has beer
through some years of training, dashe
off at full speed among the herds of buf
faloes, elks, or even antelopes, and deal
his deadly arrows to their hearts from hi
horses back. The horse is the feetes
animal of the prairie, and easily bring
his rider alongside of his game, which
falls certain prey to his deadly shafts a
the distance of few PAGES.
In the chase of the buffalo, or othe
animal, the Indian generally "strips
himself and his horse by throwing off hi
shield and quiver, and every part of hi
dress which might be an ineumbrance t
him in running; grasping his bow in hi
left hand, with five or six arrows draw
from his quiyer, and ready for instan
:. use. In his right hand (or attached t
the wrist) is a heavy whip, which h
fuses without mercy, and forces his hors
alongside of his game at the swiftes
speed.
) These horses are so trained that tn
, Indian has little use for the rein, whicl
hangs on the neck, whilst the horse ap
T proaches the animal on the right side
| giving his rider the chance to throw hi
: arrow to the left, which he does at tn
instant when the horse is passing, bring
) ing him opposite to the heart, which re
+ Ieeiyes the deadly weapon "tothe feather
, When pursuing a large herd, the India
|, generally rides close In the rear until b
{ selects the animal he wishes to kill, whic
he separates from the throng as soon a
he can, by dashing his horse between
and the herd and forcing it of by itseli
where he can approach it without tn
danger of being trampled to death. t
+ which he is often liable by too closely es
/ corting the multitude.
No bride whatever is used in TIN
; country by the Indians. as they have n
knowledge of a bit. A short halter
) however, which answers in the place {
! a bride. is in general use; of which the