The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-01-16
STILL SAvhGE;.
The Indian Clings to His
Bow, Arrow and
Lance,
Western Indians Who Still Hunt
With the Weapons OF Their
FOrefatherS.


they have demonstrated their incapacity
to govern themselves, and recommends
that the trust which base been reposed III
them by the government should be re
voked.
The courts of justice have become help
less and paralyzed Murder, violence ana
robbery are an every day occurrence. II
was learned by the commission That oo
murders occurred in the months OF sep
TENDER and October in one tribe only, ana
not one of the cnlprts was brought 10
Justice. The Dawes COMMISSION recon-
mend that a large portion of the Indian
reservation be annexed to oklahoma; this
action TO be followed by forming that
country into a territory. But to accom-
plish this it would he necessary that the
consent OF the INDIANS De ODtdlleu anu
this is doubtful.
The statement that the Indians have
cast aside their ancient weapons and
adopted more modern ones ana that
through the use of them they are gradual
" extending their hunting rounds beyond
the lines Of their reservations is false.
The report of the commission clearly makes
this known Throughout the West the In
dams still trust to their bows and arrows.
On the Northwest coast most OF the In
dams live by hunting and fishing. They
use principally the bow and arm oW, KNIFE
war club and lance. In the North Pacific
ocean are several islands inhabited wholly
by the Indians. In the Queen Charlotte
and the Prince of Wales Archipelago are
found one of the most remarkable races
of aborgines on the American continent
the Haida tribes-and they consists of
strikingly Intelligent Indians. They ac-
quire knowledge readily; learn trades and
exhibit much ingenuity in following the
teachings Of the missionaries and traders.
Nevertheless they cling to the primitive
weapons Of the race.
During the long winter nights the old
Indians seat themselves before the fire and
carve bows, ornamental club handles and
feather and point arrows. Perhaps in
some of tibet tepees hang polished guns
furnished by the government, but they are
more for ornament than use. This even
ing work is accompanied by the low croak-
ing of some old Indian, who tells
again and again the legends, folk lore and
nursery tales of their grandfathers and
grandmothers.
The Haida tribe is more rapidly advanc-
ing in civilization than any of its neigh
bors, yet they still carve and paint bows,
arrows, club handles and paddles. The In
dams still cling to other rude implements
and take not kindly to metal ones. Rude
knives of ebert are still used for sknning
deer, especially by the old Indians. The
axe, of course, is employed for cutting
trees and eXcavating canoes and mortars.
1t has really taken the place of the stone
chisel, yet many old men prefer burning
the roots of the tree until it can be made to
fall by giving it a few hacks with the rude
stone Ratchet.
In archery the Indian has scarcely been
eXcelled. With quick eye and powerful
muscle he sends the arrow as unerringly
as the archers of olden time.
The Indian bow is usually from So to 4
feet in length, with such a difficult spring
that one with no experience scarcely
bend it sufficiently to set the string. Diff
ferent tribes of course carry bows of diff
ferent lengths, the Seneca having the long
est The best of woods for making bows
are Usage orange, hickory, ash, elm, cedar
plumb and cherry; some of these are
strengthened with sinew and glue. Almost
every tribe has three sizes, the largest be-
ing used for purposes. and until an
Indian can handle this war bow he is not
considered fit to be called a warrior
Some claim that the Sioux and Crows
make the best bows, although the Apaches
come close in the rank. When the Sioux
bow is unstrung it is straight piece of
wood, while the Apaches and Southern In
dams make a perfect Cupds bow. The
Crows often use elk horns as material and
carve them most beautifully. The Sioux to
make the straight pieces of wood more
elastic, string the backs with sinews. Often
these are beautifully beaded and leath-
ered quite equaling, as a piece of art, the
elaborate elkhorn bows made by the Crows
The Commanche's bows are covered with
sinew. much like those of the Apaches
The object of practice is to enable the bow
man to draw the bow with sudden and in
slant effect. 1t is seldom that the Indian
had need of throwing the arrow DIT a great
distance.
The bow of the Western Indian is small
and apparently insignificant though it is of
great power in the hands of it's owner.
From childhood up he. has habituated him
self to its use. Indians study to get the
requisite power in the smallest compass
possible, as short bow is more easily used
on horseback than one of any great length
aro do Of
lined on the back with layers of buffalo or
deer sinews
The Blackfeet have bows of bone; other
tribes utilize the horns of the mountain
sheep. The bone bows are the most valu-
able and have known one to be sold for
two ponies and five pounds of butter.
one OF these bows in the hands of an
indian on fleet horse is most effective
ana powerful weapon. 1t is impossible te
estimate the force with which these arrow:
are thrown, and the dreadful effects pro
duced from their wounds, unless one ha.
been in a fight or ridden side by side
with party hunting buffalo, and wit
messed the ease and grace with which the
bow and arrow are handled. Without seem.
ing effort an arrow can be sent entirely
through buffalo.
In war the Indians would even now arm
themselves in part with bow culver lance
war club and shield. The northwestern
trlpes are partial to fighting with the bow
ana lance, protected with shield. This
shield is outside of the left arm after the
manner OF the Roman and Grecian shield
The Western Indians are fonder of horse
pack riding than the Eastern tribes and
nave learned to WELD their Weapons while
mounted. They are taught to kill game
while running at full speed and prefer t.
night on horseback. Some of them ar.
great towards when dismounted, but seat
ed on an Indian pony are undaunted.
1t is a mistake to suppose that arrow
heads are no longer manufactured; the ar
OF fashfoning them is not lost. Almos
every tribe manufactures it's own Bould
ers of flint are broken with sledge ham
mer made of rounded pebble of horn
stone set in twisted withe. This bone is
tnought to be the tooth of the spern
whale. In Oregon the Indian arrow is still
pointed with flint. The Iroduois also USED
TINS hint until they laid asidesthe arrow TO,
the lack of anything to hunt. The Iro.
quols youth, though the rifle mas been in
troduced largely into his tribe will have
none OF 1t, but takes naturally to the bow
ana arrow. Steel for arrow heads is fur
hlshed by the fur traders in the Rock,
mountains, and iron heads are often made
from old barrel hoops fashioned with :
piece of sandstone =
In shooting with the bow and arrow or
horseback the Indian horse is taught t.
approach the animal attacked IN the RICH
sue. enabling it's rider to throwthe arrow.
10 the left. Buffalo Bill was IN adept a
siaughtering game on horseback and h,
won his great bet at-kilfng the creates
number OF buffalos by following the custom