Catlin's North American Indian portfolio. : Hunting scenes and amusements of the Rocky Mountains and prairies of America. : From drawings and notes of the author, made during eight years' travel amongst forty-eight of the wildest and most remote tribes of savages in North America. |
PLATE No. 15. |
 | Catlin's North American Indian portfolio. : |  |
PLATE No. 15.
BUFFALO HUNT, ON SNOW-SHOES.
In this plate is illustrated the mode alluded to in the preceding page, of the Indians hunting in the depth of winter, running on their snow-shoes, which support them on
the surface of the snow, whilst the great weight of the buffalo and other animals sinks them down and fastens them in the drifts of the snow, where they fall easy victims to
the arrows and lances of their cruel pursuers.
The Indians are induced to slay these noble animals for their skins, which, when manufactured into robes, are vended to white men in vast quantities, for rum and whiskey;
and as the fur is longer and more valuable, and the animals more easily slain at this inclement season of the year than at any other, it is then that the wholesale slaughter takes
place, which is rapidly thinning their ranks, and will soon extinguish their species in North America.
| Catlin's North American Indian portfolio. : | |