Congregating in vast herds, these animals are said to cover the wide-extended savannahs of the more southern districts of the north for miles in extent. "Such was the multitude," say Lewis and Clarke, speaking of an assemblage of Bisons as they creased the water, "that although the river, including an island over which they passel, was a mile in length, the herd stretched as thick as they could swim com pletely from one side to the other." The same travellers, speaking of another of these grand spectacles say—" If it be not impossible to calculate the moving multitude which darkened the whole plains, we are convinced that 20,000 would be no exaggerated number." Catesby, after stating that they range in droves, feeding on the open savannahs morning and evening, says that in the sultry time of the day they retire to shady rivulets and streams of clear water gliding through thickets of tall canes. Dr. James had an opportunity of observing them on such occasions, and he thus describes their march :—" In the middle of the day countless thousands of them were seen coming in from every quarter to the stagnant pools ;" and in another place he says that their paths are as frequent and almost as conspicuous as the roads in the most populous parts of the United States.
The Bisons, in truth, are a wandering race, the motives of their restlessness being either disturbance by hunters or change of pasture. After the fire has cleared the prairie of all the old herbage, the deli cately tender grass which springs up in the room of the old wiry bents that fed the flame offers the most grateful food to the migratory Bisons: such spots are well known to the hunter as points of attraction to these animals. In the winter, when the snow lies deep over the vegetation, they scrape it away with their feet to get at the Fierce and terrible are the fights among the bulls in the rutting season, and perilous is the condition of the man who then approaches them. For the greatest part of the year the bulls and cows live in separate herds, but at all seasons, according to Sir John Richardson, one or two old bulls generally accompany a large herd of cows.
These powerful beasts are in general shy, and fly from the face of man till they are wounded ; they then become furious, and pursue their enemy with the most vindictive spirit, as we shall presently see; but we must first say a word or two on some of the different modes of hunting them. Du Pratz and Charlevoix give several particulars of the chase of these animals by the Indians. If the rifle be used the hunter is careful to go against the wind, for the sense of smelling is so exquisite in the Bison that it will otherwise get scent of him-, and precipitately retire. If he gets within rifle-distanco he is careful so to take his aim that the beast may drop at once, and not be irritated by an ineffectual wound.
But the great hunting is, or rather was, somewhat after the manner of the Scottish 'tincheL' A great number of men divide and form a vast square. Each band sets fire to the dry grass of the savannah where the herds are feeding. When the affrighted beasts perceive the fire approaching on all sides they retire in confusion to the centre of the square, where the bands close upon them and kill them, as they are huddled together in heaps, without hazard : 1500 or 2000 beeves have been given as the produce of such an expedition.
Sir John Franklin, in his account of his first voyage, gives us the following information. After stating that the Stone Indians are so expert with the bow and arrow that they can strike a very small object at a considerable distance, and shoot with sufficient force to pierce through the body of a buffalo when near, he thus describes a buffalo or bison pound : " The buffalo-pound was a fenced circular space of about 100 yards in diameter ; the entrance was banked up with snow to a sufficient height to prevent the retreat of the animals that once have entered. For about a mile on each side of the road leading to the pound, stakes were driven into the ground at nearly equal distances of about 20 yards ; these were intended to represent men, and to deter the animals from attempting to break out on either aids. Within 50 or 60 yards from the pound branches of trees were placed between these stakes to screen the Indians, who lie down behind them to await the approach of the buffalo. The principal dexterity in this species of chase is shown by the horsemen, who have to manoeuvre round the herd in the plains so as to urge them to enter the roadway, which is about a quarter of a mile broad. When this has been accomplished they raise loud Aleuts, and, pressing close upon the animals, so terrify them that they nob heedlessly forward towards the snare. When they have advanced as far as the men who are lying in ambush, they also rise, and increase the consternation by violent shouting and firing guns. The affrighted beasts having no alternative ran directly to the pound, 'where they are quickly dispatched either with an arrow or gun. There was a tree in the centre of the pound on which the Indians had hung strips of buffalo flesh and pieces of cloth, as tributary or grateful offerings to the Great Master of life; and wo were told that they occasionally place a man in the tree to sing to the presiding spirit as the buffaloes are advancing, who must keep his station until the whole that have entered are killed."
The same author further proceeds as follows :—" Other modes of killing the buffalo are practised by the Indians with success ; of these, the hunting them on horseback requires most dexterity. An expert hunter, when well mounted, dashes at the herd, and chooses an indi vidual which he endeavours to separate from the rest. If he succeeds he contrives to keep him apart by the proper management of his horse, though going at full speed. Whenever he can get sufficiently near for a ball to penetrate the beast's hide he fires, and seldom fails of bringing the animal down ; though of course he cannot rest the piece against the shoulder nor take a deliberate aim. On this service the hunter is often exposed to considerable danger from the fall of his horse in the numerous holes which the badgers make in these plains, and also from the rage of the buffalo, which, when closely pressed, often turns suddenly, and, rushing furiously on the horse, frequently succeeds in wounding it or dismounting the rider. Whenever the animal shows this disposition, which the experienced hunter will readily perceive, he immediately pulls up his horse, and goes off in another direction." The reader will find some animated descriptions of such encounters in 'The Tour on the Prairies,' before alluded to. A great deal of interesting matter on the habits of these animals will also be found in Catlin's 'Letters and Notes on the North American Indians.' " When the buffaloes are on their guard," as Sir John Franklin observes, " horses cannot be used in approaching them ; but the bunter dismounts at some distance, and crawls in the snow towards the herd, pushing his gun before him. If the buffaloes happen to look towards him, he stops, and keeps quite motionless, until their eyes are turned in another direction; by this cautious proceeding a skilful person will get so near as to be able to kill two or three out of the herd. It will easily be imagined this service cannot be very agreeable when the thermometer stands 30° or 40° below zero, as sometimes happens in this country." This chase of the bison is not unattended with danger, "for," says Catesby, " when wounded they are very furious, which cautions the Indians how they attack them in open savannahs, where no trees are to screen them from their fury. Their hoofs, more than their horns, are their offensive weapons, and whatever opposes them is in no small danger of being trampled into the earth." Sir John Richardson, in his Fauna Boreali-Americani,' observes that "the bisons are less wary when they are assembled together in numbers, and that they will then often blindly follow their leaders, regardless of, or trampling down, the bunters posted in their way." He further states that, though the gait of these animals may appear heavy and awkward, they will have no great difficulty in overtaking the fleetest runner, and gives the following account of the determined violence with which a wounded Bison assails its enemy :—" While I resided at Carlton-House," writes Sir John Richardson, "an accident of this kind occurred. Mr. Finnan M'Donald, one of the Hudson's Bay Company's clerks, was descending the Saskatchewan in a boat, and one evening, having pitched his tent for the night, he went out in the dusk to look for game. It had become nearly dark when he fired at a bison bull, which was galloping over a small eminence, and as he was hastening forward to see if his shot had taken effect, the wounded beast made a rush at him. He had the presence of mind to seize the animal by the long hair on its forehead as it struck him on the side with its horn, and, being a remarkably tall and powerful man, a struggle ensued, which continued until his wrist was severely sprained, and his arm was rendered powerless; he then fell, and after receiving two or three blows became senseless. Shortly afterwards he was found by his companions lying bathed in blood, being gored in several places, and the bison was couched beside him, apparently waiting to renew the attack had be shown any signs of life. Mr. M'Doludd recovered from the immediate effects of the injuries he received, but died a few months afterwards. Many other instances might be mentioned of the tenaciousness with which this animal pursues its revenge ; and I have been told of a hunter having been detained for many hours in a tree by an old bull which had taken its post below to watch him. When it contends with a dog, it strikes violently with its fore feet, and in that way proves more than a match for an English bull-dog." The same writer says that the favourite Indian method of killing the Bison is by riding up to the fattest of the herd on horseback, and shooting it with an arrow ; and he speaks of the imposing spectacle which is afforded when a large party of hunters are engaged in this way on an extensive plain, and of the skill and agility displayed by the young men on such occasions. The horses, it appears, seem to enjoy the sport as much as their riders, and are very active in eluding the shock of the animal should it turn on its pursuer. It should be remembered, on such occasions, that when the Bison runs it leans very much first to one side for a short time, and then to the other, and so on alternately. This account is confirmed by Catlin in the work above quoted.