The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-08-12

one month. At the first opening Of the
spring the settlement resounds with prepare
tons for the approaching campaign, and as
all are taught the rude use OF Tools all are
are busy together making and repairing
carts, harnesses, and tents of Buffilo skins,
for the long voyage across the plains. The
cart is rude but light vehicle, with shafts,
in which single OK, harnessed in gearing
made Of strips Of raw hide, performs the
labor Of transportation. The wives and
children Of the hunters accompany
them in these expeditions, to perform the
mental services Of the camp, to pitch the
tent and cook the evening meal.
TIE DEPARTURE OF TIKI TRArSs.-Over
thousand carts are frequently assembled
Tor the journey. And as they emerge from
the settlements, mutely following each other
in single file, and the vast procession winds
away across the plains and over the distant
hills, and slowly sinks with the setting sun
into the vast widernerness beyond, the in.
telligent spectator instinctively recalls the
caravans which fill with pictures of romance
and poetry the desert plains OF Asia.
THE CANA thorough organization
ensures the order of the camp-which is di.
vlded into trigades under the command of
captains elected by the hunters, while chief
officer controls the whole body. Rules are
adopted by the captains in council for the
government of the camp, which are in gene
raj implicitly obeyed. A flag hoisted in the
morning is their rereiie-and when lowered
at night it is the signal for halt. The
formation of their night encampments is con-
Quoted with the discipline of an army in the
presence OF an evening, and their prepare
lions indeed look to the possibility of attack
from the savage foes who often hover on
their trail. The carts are arranged in the
form Of circle with the shafts projecting
outward; the tents are pitched at one end
and the animals tethered at the other"
Sentlnels relieved at regular intervals patrol
the camp, and not unfrequently the cry of
alarm startles the hunters from their mid
night slumbers to repel the treacherous at
tack of their stealthy Yankton enemies.
The Sabbath day is observed by absti.
nence from hunting. Theft is vigorously
punished.
The HrNr.-Regulating their journey by
these rules the buffalo is sought in his lavorite
ranges on the Shayenne or the more distant
plains OF the Saskatchewan, where thousands
are often found in single herd. Scouts
announce their presence; permanent en-.
campment is formed. Mounted on trained
horses, the hunters advance in regular
cavalcade, under the orders of their leader,
towards the herd, taking advantage of all
the Inequalities of the surface to conceal
their approach. The cautious advance
gives place to swift gallop, as they burst
In among the frightened herd and pour a
voley into their TANKS. The flight of the
herd and the hunters pursuit is a scene of
fierce excitement, which has no parallel ex-
cept upon the field of battle. The tramp
OF the retreating army of bufialoes is desrrib-
ed as like the shock Of an earthquake. or
ten thousands of these noble animals in a
single day will bite the dust under the prac-
tised aim OF the hunters As they dash
forwards at full gallop in the swift pursuit,
their mouths full OF bullets which they drop
from their teeth, without wadding, into the
muzzle Of their guns, while the hasty charge
is beat into the barrel, by conclusion upon
the pumme Of the saddle, they load and fire
IN few seconds, never stopping for an in
slant in the headlong race.
The carts follow the hunters to bring in
the spoils. A busy scene ensues the car.
cases are stripped OF their skins, the tongues
cut out such Of the meat as can be used
Is carried into camp a part is dried, the
rest is converted into pemmican-a prepa.
ration of boiled talow, mixed with shreds
OF meat, and poured into sacks of raw hide
and when the skins are dressed and the
tongues cured, the labors OF the expedition
are ended and the hunters return to their
homes to subsist till the Fall hunt, on the
results of their adventure. They live most
ly on pemmican and buffalo meats. The
former Ia the >'ne qua non Of the voyageur
and sells at the settlements for four cents
Per pound. The tongues and hides are re-
served TOR barter A dried tongue sells
usually for twenty five cents and buffalo
skin for two or three dollars.
The Fur Trade OF st. Paul with the