St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-07-31

prairie, anu easily DIlHSS Ills TlueE
alongside of his game, which falls a
certain prey to his deadly shafts at
the distance of few PAGES.
In the chase of the buffalo, or other
animal, the Indian generally strips
himself and his horse by throwing off
his shield and culver and every part
of his dress which might be an incum-
brance to him in running ; grasping
his bow in his left hand, with five or six
arrows drawn from his culver, and
ready for instant use. In his right
hand (or attached to the wrist is a
heavy whip, which he uses without
mercy, and forces his horse alongside
of his game at the swiftest speed.
These horses are so trained that the
Indian has little use for the rein, which
hangs on the neck, whilst the horse APP
proaches the animal on the right side,
giving his rider the chance to throw
his arrow to the left, which he does
at the instant when the horse is pass
ing, bringing him opposite to the
heart, which receives the deadly weap-
on to the feather" When pursuing
large herd, the Indian generally
rides close in the rear until he selects
the animal he wishes to kill, which he
separates from the throng as soon as
he can, by dashing his horse between
it and the herd and forcing it off by
itself, where he can approach it without
the danger of being trampled to death,
to which he is often liable by too close
ly escorting the multitude.
No bride whatever is used by the
Indians, as they have no knowledge of
a bit. A short halter, however, which
answers in the place of bride, is in
general use f; of which they usually
form a moose around the under jaw of
the horse, by which they get great
power over the animal, and which they
use generally to stop rather than guide
the horse. This has great power in
arresting the speed of the horse,
though it is extremely dangerous to
use too freely as guide, interfering
too much with the freedom of his limbs
for the certainty of his feet and the Sc
curity of his rider.
When the Indian, then, has directed
the course of his steed to the animal
which he has selected, the. training of
the horse is such that it knows the OBJ
ject of his riders selection, and exerts
every muscle to give it close company,
while the halter lies loose and I'M
touched upon its neck and the rider
leans quite forward and off from the
side of his horse, with his bow drawn,
and ready for the deadly sport, which
is given the instant he is opposite to
the animals body.
The horse being instinctively afraid
of the animal though he generally
brings his rider within reach of the end
of his bow, )keeps his eye strained up
on the furious enemyhe is so closely en-
countering; and the moment he has
approached to the nearest distance re-
CURED, and has passed the animal,
whether the shot is given or not, he
sheers off to prevent coming on to the
! horns of the Infatuated beast, which
often are instantly turned'and presen-
ted for the fatal reception of its too ia
miliar attendant. These frightful col
lisions often take place, notwithstand-
ing the sagacity of the horse, and the
caution Of it's rider for in these extra
ordinary (and inexpressible) exhilara-
tions of chase which seem to drown the
prudence alike of instinct and reason,
both horse and rider often seem rush
ing on to destruction, as if it were a
mere pastime and amusement.