Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-10-21
Indian Ways i'm
F rontier DAYS.

the way. Major Walsh advised us no
to get too far away from the commanG
that we would soon be in the wilC
region where it would not be safe 70.
us to be alone. But father though
that the Indians knowledge of rex
coats being in the vicinity in q stron(
force would have tendency to tame
the Indians and would make 1t safe
for u.s.
The roads In this region consisted o.
trails made by Red river cart freight.
ers. These vehicles made a poor roaC
for wagons. The carts were drawn by
one dwarf horse or steer, making Z
tow-path between the two vince
tracks. In this way it left ridge or
both sides of the road for a team tx
travel on which was very inconvenient
for wagon traffic.
There were no bridges those days
All streams had to be forded. Owing
to inexperienced drivers many of the
government teams we're stuck each day
The first day out father pulled three
police wagons out of mud holes, which
subStantiated what the major had
said that they might need us before
they got through.
The third day out we camped al
Old Wife's lake, where we saw our
first buffalo. The two half-breed
guides were sent out In quest of meat
returning late that night with two fat
buffalo, The next morning, we were
all eating buffalo meat. From here on,
buffalo, Indians and haIf-breeds were
in evidence all over the plains and
trade with them was very good as long
as our goods lasted We exchanged
goods for fine lot of buffalo robes
and furs. There was no timber around
loi hVgf
summer campground because of good
water. Here I began to see real m
dian life and their manner Of living
on the plains. I noticed that as a camp
of Cree Indians came into the lake
that the SquawS gathered dry buffalo
chips into a blanket, fastened the blan-
ket on their backs for fuel when they
got into camp. These dry buffalo chips
made good fire and burned like wood.
The squaws were also expected to set
up the lodges and do all the camp
work. The bucks job was to hunt
when they felt like it,
A few days later we camped on
SWiftcurrent creek, a beautiful little
stream of good refreshing water. Here
We found Little Black Bears camp.
This was the main camp OF the Cree
ribe. After making the accustomed
to the chiefs, we made a good
rade with them and obtained a fine
OF of buffalo robes and small f1rs.
Indians Art of Tanning
Being IN close contact with the In
lians, ! noticed every feature of their
Method Of tanning, which I win de-
cr1be to the reader. well remember
he first buffalo robe saw tanned.
me morning early, while camped ON
,w1ftcurrent creek, I saw an Indian |
III buffalo close to camp. His squaw
nd another one skinned the buffalo |
nd brought the meat and hide to |
amp. Then I watched the procedure |
tanning the robe. First, the hide |
1as stretched tight on the ground, |
lesh side up, with wooden pegS-then /
he squaw brought out 8 little con-
raption something like a small hoe.
viii try to describe to the reader
ow this tool was made. For the han
lie they used the leg bone from the
nee down OF deer or antelope; a
mall piece Of hoop iron was dashed
roSswise on one end of this bone,
htch formed a hoe-Shaped tool.
The next feature in the process of
aiming was to scrape all the flesh
II the hide with the above described
'Ol. Then the robe was taken to the
eek and washed thoroughly-then it
as fastened, one end to a small tree
It'll q stick run through the other
Id. 1t was wrlng as dry as possible.
hen came the real art of the work.
sinew thong was tied to q tree about
lree feet above the ground, and again
bout six feet high, forming q loop
through this loop the hide was placed
eSh side out. On this strong cord the
de was rubbed back and forth IN
le hot SUN TIL 1t was pl1able and dry.
hen the hide was spread out on the
0s1no and marrow from the buffalo
mes and brains was rubbed on the
ssh side Of the robe. Then it was
aced on a frame over 8 smudge fire
Id smoked till 1t had a yellow cast.
ais was the finishing touch to we'll
uned robe.
I saw the buffalo killed In the morn
g and saw the hide tanned through
% day and was given q pair of moe
SINS made from the robe that night.
could hardly believe q robe could be
nneu In one day until I saw it done.
noticed that when Squaw started
tan robe 1t was always finished
o same day. Further, It was ready
trade off by night.
AS we advanced farther west, we
me In contact with q different type
Indians. The American Indians were
we thr1fty-they had plenty OF
Az4C1 1&Au we're nUTS L0ukkSkrfulH. IN
ABS greatest pride la those days was
err ability to steal ponies from other
soes--and from white people when
~ g0t chance.
rhe tgzhes we met on our arrival in
autana we're the Gr0S Vantree.
uws and Piegans. The last three
beS mentioned were classed az
endly Indians, bat they too would an
nsD q white man Off II they got q U
y0T@saks opportunity. we we're very
tzsna&e ca this long memorable
sa&aDx trip. Part Of the time we wewe
aze trading with the Indians and
~ once did we have trouble. One
he an ta1e gray OF the morning, our n