The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-02-21
THE WESTERN FUR TRADE.
THE TRAFFIC ON THE UPPER MISSOURI
HOW THE INDIANS HUNT AND TRAP
THE DIGNITY OF 10.

Probably there is no business carried on
in this country of the details of which so
little is known by people generally as the
fur and robe trade among the Sioux Indians
Of Montana and Dakota. The following
facts in relation to the trade have been
obtained from the old hunters and trappers
who have spent the greater portion of their
lives in the country adjacent to the Upper
Missouri.
The season in which furs and peltries
are secured extends from October and Feb
ruary. After that time the shedding of
the coat commences, the hair fades, and
the skin becomes worthless. The animals
most sought after are otter, buffalo, wolf,
elk, BEAR fox, deer, and coon. Mink is
sometimes taken by the white trappers;
but is the considered too small game by
the Indian. The buffalo are killed mostly
with the bow and arrow as this method is
not only less expensive than killing with
fire arms, but the arrows can be recovered
and used again. A large herd is surround
ed, sometimes scattered over an era COM
prising several miles in extent, and grad
ually driven in together. And here is ex-
hibited a piece of strategy thoroughly In
dian. The stragglers on the outskirts of
the herd are shot in the liver, and will
bleed to death in going few miles. The
hunters continue driving them in, and the
carcasses at the close Of the slaughter are
consequently not scattered over as great an
extent of ground as they would be if shot
instantly dead. When the circle is well
closed in the hunters begin shooting at the
heart. The ponies are all trained, and
will not enter the herd but keep the out
side, although the hunter does not draw a
rein after reaching the killing ground.
Wolves are secured by poison in the follow
ing manner: quarter of buffalo is either
dragged or taken in wagon to the local
ity where the wolves most do congregate.
At a distance of about forty rods apart
stakes are stuck in the ground; on the top
of each piece of meat is impaled, having
previously been poisoned with strynchrine.
The wolves strike the trail and follow it
up, taking the pieces as they go. Next
morning the hunters go along the line
and skin the dead animals. They stretch
the skins over stakes, with the inside up,
and let them dry. No salt or anything
else is put on them. Sometimes seventy
or eighty wolves are killed with single
quarter of meat. One eighth of an ounce
of strychnine is sufficientto kill five wolves.
The otter and beaver are trapped, vari-
Gus kinds of drugs being used for bait. A
few slver-gray foxes have been captured,
but they are very scarce. The skins of
these animals are very valuable, bringing
from $50 to So each. When taken they
aye invariably sent to Europe, where they
are used only by the wealthiest people.
The Indians use the brains of the ami
nal to tan the skin with. After stretch
ing it over stakes or frames, as above stat
ed, they rub on the brains, mixed with
Juices obtained from certain roots and
plants. The skins are then scraped with
hoes, or other instruments of that nature.
The brains are said to draw out the grease.
After drying, the hides are painted and
ornamented. The paint used is the very
finest quality of Chinese vermilion and
chrome yellow and green. There is pop
ular idea that some of the buffalo robes
which we find in market are tanned by
white men after being brought into the
States, but such is not the case. Many
whites have attempted it but failed, and
the Indians seem to be the only people who
are possessed of the knowledge which ena-
blcs them to impart n softness and pleas