Indian Tribes of the Upper Missouri 48

Indian Tribes of the Upper Missouri 48

Elk are also approached singly and at those times the same precautions

are used as stated under the head of deer hunting, though they are not

so shy and timid an animal as deer.

 

GRIZZLY BEARS.—This animal is not hunted but often found when not

desired, and mostly passed by unmolested by a single Indian when

on foot, though on occasions they do kill them in this way, which

exploit ranks in bravery next to killing an enemy, but the thickets

and mauvaise terre which they inhabit makes the pursuit too dangerous

for ordinary hunters. They are more frequently killed in their dens in

winter.

 

The grizzly bear in the beginning of cold weather and snow seeks

some hole in the side of a hill in some solitary place, and carries

in a quantity of grass and brush to make his nest, lies all winter

apparently asleep and eats nothing, though they are said to derive

some nourishment by sucking their paws. The nest or wash is always

within a few feet of the entrance and they can easily be seen from

the outside. Generally a den contains two to four bears, or one large

male and two yearling cubs, or one large female and two yearlings.

Sometimes, however, they are found singly. When a den is discovered six

or eight Indians go to attack it, approaching the hole so close as to

see the foremost bear, when three of them fire, the others reserving

their shots. They all run off some distance and if the animal, or any

others pursue them, the rest fire. If the first one has been killed

and there are others the smoke of the guns drives them out, when they

receive a volley from the hunters. If they see nothing after waiting

a sufficient time for the smoke to escape from the hole they again

approach as before and see if the animal be dead. If so, they make a

smoke within the entrance with the view of driving out any other that

may be within. Should nothing appear they conclude there is but one,

enter, and drag him out.

 

Frequently two or three bears are killed in the same hole at the same

time, and at others some of the hunters get dreadfully mangled. Bears

are also run on horseback, when found on the plains, and shot with

arrows. This is the least dangerous manner of killing them. No pits or

traps are used, though we have known forked sticks to be placed before

the hole so that when they came out they were caught by the hind part

and detained a short time. When a bear is killed he is skinned, all

except the head, which is covered with scarlet cloth, the hair smeared

over with vermilion, handsome feathers stuck around it, and new kettles

and tobacco laid before it. It is presented with the pipe to smoke and

a long ceremony of invocation takes place, purporting that they give

him this property and pay this attention to have pity upon their wives

and children and not tear them when they are hunting after fruit and

berries. They say if this is not done the bear will certainly sooner or

later devour some of them or their children.

 

BEAVER.—None of these Indians trap the beaver to any extent except the

Crow and Cree Indians. The steel trap is used by them, set under the

water, and a stick dipped in the musk or oilstone of the beaver, placed

behind the trap, though above the surface. The animal, smelling the

bait, will come to see what it is, and in swimming around is caught by

the foot. Oils of cinnamon, cloves, and rhodium are also used for bait

by white trappers.

 

WOLVES AND FOXES.—Wolves and foxes are caught in deadfall traps made

by planting sticks in the ground with a crosspiece supporting a heavy

roof of stone laid on sticks. The whole is propped up with a stick,

and the wolf going in to eat the meat displaces the prop and the whole

weight falls upon him and breaks his back. The Cree catch them in a

pit or hole dug for the purpose—covering it with a revolving trap

door with a bait of meat on each end above and beneath. The animal in

endeavoring to reach the bait is turned in by the revolving of the

door under its weight, which brings the other bait on top. A second

revolution turns up the first bait and turns down the second wolf.

 

In this way they will catch as many as the pit will hold, especially as

when a few are turned in they commence fighting; and the noise attracts

others. Wolves are also sacrificed to and small presents given them,

with the view of avoiding their being bitten by them when mad, or as

the Gods of War.

 

The chase does not vary much at any season, except that in the summer,

no skins being seasonable but deer in the red, only enough animals are

killed to suffice for food, clothing, lodges, etc. From the middle of

September to the middle of March the hair and fur of all animals become

merchantable. They are then hunted for the hide, though all prime furs

are taken off in the middle of the winter. Pelts are judged by the

thickness of their skin and fur. In the warm months all animals shed

their hair. A little observation enables a person to determine to a

certainty in what month the animal has been killed.

 

Hunting parties not decided on by council in the soldiers’ lodge are

formed by any respectable hunter sending invitations to those he wishes

should accompany him.

 

The spoils of smaller game belong to him who killed it but they share

the meat with all who are there, and but little difficulty occurs on

this point. When but few animals are killed it is always known who

killed them, and when many are slaughtered all have enough. Disputes

arise occasionally, however, but it is not a matter of sufficient

importance to proceed to extreme measures, and one of the party usually

relinquishes his claim.

 

The morning and evening are the best hours for approaching small game,

as at those times they are found feeding, but buffalo can be easier

approached in the middle of the day when they lie down for an hour or

two, and if not asleep their range of vision is much diminished by

that position and intervening grass. Light and shade are not of much

consequence in approaching game. The object of the hunter is to keep

out of sight entirely until the moment of firing, and when that is not

possible to make use of some skin, branches, grass, etc., to deceive

the animal, move very slowly, and keep the wind in his favor.

 

The manner in which animals are decoyed has been pointed out, but is

not always successful, and only resorted to by those who are adepts

in the art of mimicry, as in the rutting season. This is the reason

why he who leads the buffalo into the parks is supposed by the mass to

be possessed with some supernatural power which forces the buffalo to

follow him, when in fact it is nothing more than a correct imitation of

the bleating of a calf or a noise as though a calf was being devoured

by a wolf and crying for help. The buffalo never get near enough to the

man to make him out, as he is covered with his robe, the hair turned

outward, and he always keeps the wind in his favor. It is, however, a

rare talent.

 

[Illustration: FIGURE 33.—Tool for fleshing the hide]

 

The hide of the buffalo, to make a robe, is taken off in two halves,

by slitting the animal down the middle of the back and the middle of

the belly. The first process it undergoes afterwards is taking off the

portions of meat and membrane adhering to it, so that it will present

the smooth clear skin. This is done with a tool made from the shin bone

of an elk. (Fig. 33.) The lower end is cut to an edge and small teeth

made therein. The skin is hung up at one corner to a pole and the meat

is dug off by hoeing down with the instrument, which is held firmly at

the upper end. A woman will finish this operation on two whole skins

or four halves in one day. Next the skin is stretched to dry. Holes

are cut through it near the edge. In summer it is pinned to the ground

by wooden pegs, or in winter when the ground is frozen, stretched on a

frame of four poles tied together, and a small fire built to dry it.

When dry the next thing to be done is to scrape it, that is, to hoe

off about one-third of the thickness of the hide. This is done with

an iron tool about 3½ inches long, 1½ inches wide, and ⅛-inch

thick. Formerly a flint stone was used for this purpose, but the iron

tool answering better, is now substituted. This piece of iron being

sharpened at one edge is tied on a handle made of elk’s horn (fig. 34),

cut off at one of the forks, so as to afford a projection to fasten it,

being held in both hands. The hide is laid on the ground, the woman

stands upon it, and, stooping, digs off the hide in shavings, until of

the proper thickness.

 

This occupies about half a day to each whole hide and is a very

fatiguing employment. Grease is then melted, sprinkled sparingly over

the skin, and it is suspended over a small fire for a few hours

that the grease may penetrate; then taken down and smeared over with

the brains or livers of some animals boiled in water, being soaked

thoroughly and left all night in this state. In the morning it is again

stretched on the frame, the liver scraped off, clean water thrown on

and scraped off until the hide becomes white. A fire is then made near

and the skin slowly heated and rubbed with pumice stone or porous bone

until it is about half dry, then taken out of the frame and drawn

backward and forward round a strong cord of sinew which is tied at each

end to the lodge pole. Every few minutes the skin is held a short time

to the fire, then rubbed, and this operation continued until it becomes

perfectly dry and soft. This is also hard work. A good hand will rub

two whole skins or four halves in a day. The skin is now dressed. The

holes made for stretching it around the edges are cut off and it is

sewed up along the back with an awl and sinew, which takes about half

an hour to each two halves of the buffalo.

 

[Illustration: FIGURE 34.—Tool for scraping hides or shaving the skin]

 

The robe is now fit for sale and is packed away. Deer and elk skins

undergo the same operations, and in addition the hair is scraped off

with the same tool that the hide is shaved with, though they are

skinned whole and not in halves like the buffalo hides. It will thus

be seen that at least three days are required to prepare one buffalo

robe for market, but by their division of time in attending to several

skins in different stages of advancement the labor would be about equal

to two days for each buffalo skin. Twenty-five to thirty-five robes is

considered an excellent winter’s work for one woman. The average is

about 18 to 20 each. Wolf, bear, fox, rabbit, beaver, hare, ermine,

lynx, otter, rat, mink, etc., are not dressed for market, and all these

are skinned, stretched and dried by the men and boys. A wolf or fox

skin is now and then dressed for the use of a woman or hunter to wear

round his head, and undergoes the preceding operations, though the skin

being small and light not much labor is required. Robes and skins are

packed up in small bundles, the hair side out, each bundle weighing 30

or 35 pounds, and when a sufficient number are collected for supplies,

one of these bundles is tied on each dog travaille and they go to the

trading house to dispose of them.

 

INSTRUCTION IN HUNTING.—As stated in a former place, boys commence

with archery as soon as they can run about after birds and rabbits,

enlarging the size of the bow to suit their strength, until they attain

the age of 16 years, when the full-sized bow is used. About this time

they are taught by their father or other relations the use of firearms

and the different modes of approaching game. At this age they may be

considered fit to engage in the active labors of the chase on foot,

but seldom run buffalo on horseback so early. About 18, however, they

can hunt in every way, though before this age they can and do assist

in supporting their parents. Even when much younger they follow to

the hunt and aid in skinning and packing home meat. They are perhaps

of more service in this way when young than at a riper age, when the

pursuit of war and the possession of women occupy the greater part of

their time. Women are never known to practice any part of the hunter’s

art when left alone. They generally find some relative to remain with

them when deserted by their husbands, and their labor always secures them a home.