The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-07-09
The Western Fur Trade.

An Atchison. Kansas, letter gives some
interesting particulars about the fur trade
among the Indians on the Upper Mis-
souri,:
The animals most sought after are the
otter, buffalo, wolf, elk, bear, fox, deer,
and coon. Mink is sometimes taken by
the white trapper, but il is considered too
small game for the Indians. The buffalo
are killed mostly with the bow and arrow,
as this method is not only less expensive
than killing with firearms, but the arrows
can be recovered and used again. A large
herd Is surrounded, sometimes scattered
over an area comprising several miles in
extent and gradually driven together.
And here is exhibited piece of strategy
thoroughly Indian. 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 scatter
ed 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 he d. but keep on the outside, al
though the hunter does not draw rein
after reaching the killing ground. Wolves
are secured by poison in the following
manner: A quarter of buffalo is either
dragged or taken in a wagon tothe locali-
ty where 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 strychnine.
The wolves strike the trail and follow il
up, taking the pieces as they 90. The
next morning the hunters go along the
line and skin the dead animals. They
stretch the skins over stakes, with the in
side 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 sufficient to kill
many wolves. The otter and beaver are
trapped, various kinds of drugs being used
for bait. A few silver-gray foxes have
been captured, but they are very scarce.
The skins of these animals are very valu-
able. bringing from $50 to S75 each.
When taken, they are invariably 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 or frames,
as above stated, they rub on the brains,
mixed with juices obtained from certain
roofs 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 best quality of Chinese
vermilion and chrome yellow and green.
There is a 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 seem TO be the only people
possessed of the knowledge which enables
them to impart a sOftness and pleasant sur
face to the buffalo robe, which is notfound
on any other skin.