The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-04-28
THE WESTERN FUR TRADE.

DETAILS OF THE BUSINEsS-How THE INDIANS
HUNT AND TRAP.
An Atchison, Kan, letter to the New York
Times gives some interesting particulars
shout the fur trade among the Indians on
the Upper Missouri: The animals most
sought after are otter, buffalo, wolf, elk,
bear, fox, deer and coon. Mink is some
times taken by the white trappers; but it is
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 surrounded,
sometimes scattered over al area comprising
several miles in extent, and gradually driven
in together. An here is exhibited a piece
of strategy thoroughly Indian. The stray
glers on the outskirts of the herd are shot
III 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 ifshot instantly dead. When the circle is
we'll 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
Wolves are secured by poison in the follow
ing manner: A quarter of buffalo is either
dragged or taken in wagon to the locality
where the wolves most do congregate. At
distance OF about forty rods apart stakes are
stuck in the ground on the top of each a
piece of meat is impaled, having previously
been poisoned with strychnine. The wolves
strike the trail and follow it up taking the
pieces IS 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 any
thing else is put on them. Sometimes sew
enty or eighty wolves are killed with single
quarter of meat. One-eighth of an ounce OF
strichnine is sufficient to kill five wolves.
The otter and beaver are trapped, various
kinds of drugs being used for bait. A fey
silver-gray foxes have been captured, but
they are very scarce. The skins OF these
animals are very valuable, bringing from
$50 to SIS each. When taken they are invari-
ably sent to Europe, where they are used
only by the wealthiest people. The Indians
use the brains of the animal to tan the skin
with. After stretching it over stakes of
frames. above stated, they rub on the
brains, mixed with juices obtained from GER
tain 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
tinted and Ornamented. The paint used Is
| the very finest quality of Chinese vermil-
| lion and chrome yellow and green. There
| is popular 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 see m to be the only people possessed
of the knowledge which enables them to inn
part softness and pleasant surface to the
buffalo robe. which is not found on any other
| skin.