ake this wholesale destruction for two
objects; first, to get the meat, which they preserve by "jerking"--that
is, by cutting into thin strips and drying in the sun--and, secondly,
for the skins with which they cover their tents, make their beds, and
part of their clothing. Many of them they barter at the trading-houses
of the whites--established in remote regions for this purpose--where
they receive in exchange knives, rifles, lead, powder, beads, and
vermilion.

Another method the Indians have of hunting the buffalo, is not unlike
the last, but is still more fearful to witness.

Most of the region where the buffaloes range consists of high upland
prairies, such as in Asia are called "steppes," and in Mexico and South
America "mesas," or "table-lands." Such plains are elevated from three
to six thousand feet above the level of the sea. In many places on
these table-lands there are deep rifts called "canons," or more properly
"barrancas," that have probably been formed by running water during
rain-storms. These are often dry, and look like vast fissures opening
down into the earth--often for a thousand feet or more--and extending
away for scores of miles across the prairie. Sometimes two of them
intersect each other, forming a triangular space or peninsula between;
and the traveller on reaching this point is obliged to turn back, as he
finds himself almost encircled by precipices yawning downward into the
earth. Whenever the Indians get a herd of buffaloes near one of these
canons, they surround them on three sides, and guide them towards the
precipice; and when they are near enough, gallop forward with wild
shouts, causing the buffaloes to dash madly and blindly over. A whole
herd will sometimes leap a precipice in this way--those in the front
being forced over by the others, and, these in turn pressed, either to
take the leap or be thrust by the spears of the pursuing horsemen.
Sometimes when the Indians are not insufficient numbers to make a
"surround" of buffalo, they collect buffalo chips, and build them in
little piles so as to represent men. These piles are placed in two
rows, gradually converging towards each other, and leading to one of the
aforementioned bluffs. Between these two rows they drive the buffaloes,
that, mistaking the piles of their own "chips" for Indians, are guided
onwards to the edge of the precipice, when the hunters make their noisy
rush, and force them over.

There are other meth