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 shews this disposition,
which the experienced hunter will readily perceive, he immediately
pulls up his horse, and goes off in another direction.
When the buffaloes are on their guard, horses cannot be used in
approaching them ; but the hunter 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.
As we were returning from the tents, the dogs that were harnessed
to three sledges, in one of which Mr, Back was seated, set off in
pursuit of a buffalo-calf. Mr. Back was speedily thrown from his
vehicle, and had to join me in my horse-cariole. Mr. Heriot, having
gone to recover the dogs, found them lying exhausted beside the calf,
which they had baited until it was as exhausted as themselves. Mr.
Heriot, to shew us the mode of hunting on horseback, or, as the
traders term it, running of the buffalo, went in chase of a cow, and
killed it after firing three shots.
The buffalo is a huge and shapeless animal, quite devoid of grace
or beauty; particularly awkward in running, but by no means slow ;
when put to his speed, he plunges through the deep snow very expeditiously
; the hair is dark brown, very shaggy, curling about the
head, neck, and hump, and almost covering the eye, particularly in
the bull, which is larger and more unsightly than the cow. The
most esteemed part of the animal is the hump, called by the Canadians
bos, by the Hudson’s Bay people the w ig; it is merely a strong
muscle, on which nature at certain seasons forms a considerable
quantity of fat. It is attached to the long spinous processes of the
first dorsal vertebrae, and seems to be destined to support the enormous
head of the animal. The meat which covers the spinal processes
themselves, after the wig is removed, is next in esteem for its
flavour and juiciness, and is more exclusively termed the hump by
the hunters.
The party was prevented from visiting a Stone Indian encampment
by a heavy fall of snow, which made it impracticable to go and
return the same day. We were dissuaded from sleeping at their
tents by the interpreter at the N.W. post, who told us they considered
the hooping cough and measles, under which they were now
suffering, to have been introduced by some white people recently
arrived in the country,' and that he feared those who had lost relatives,
imagining we were the persons, might vent their revenge on
us. We regretted to learn that these diseases had been so very destructive
among the tribes along the Saskatchawan, as to have carried
off about three hundred persons, Crees and Asseenaboines,
within the trading circle of these establishments. The interpreter
also informed us of another bad trait peculiar to the Stone Indians.
Though they receive a visiter kindly at their tents, and treat him
very hospitably during his stay, yet it is very probable they will
despatch some young men to way-lay and rob him in going towards
the post: indeed, all the traders assured us it was more necessary to
be vigilantly on their guard on the occasion of a visit to them, than
at any other time.
Carlton House, (which our observations place in latitude 52° 50' 47"
m longitude, 106° 12' 42" W., variation 20° 44' 47" E.) is pleasantly
situated about a quartet of a mile from the river’s side on the flat
ground under the shelter of the high banks that bound the plains.
The land is fertile, and produces, with little trouble, ample returns of
wheat, barley, oats, and potatoes. The ground is prepared for the
Q2