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was the signal for a grand hunt. the object in view was always to kill the buffalo as many as possible. the indian never reflected upon the possible extinction of the animal but the fact seems to be that had the white man not taken to slaughtering the buffalo for their hides. and had it not been deemed good policy to exterminate the food of the wild indian and thus reduce him to docility the buffalo would now most likely not be a thing of the past and only seen in shows. however the great day with the indian was a buffalo hunt and next to taking scalps and stealing ponies he had no greater recreation. When it was possible a Dakota procured a piece of iron be it an old wagon tire or any thing else. that would apply this was rubbed on stones and in other ways fashioned into a spear point. and secured to a shaft made a spear. The spear from the Cache collection has a point about nine inches long and one and a half inches wide this is secured to a handle six feet or so long. by means of sinew which is wrapped about the end of the shaft and over this is a piece of buckskin, the end of the shaft is also as we recall it finished in a like manner. extending the entire length of the shaft is a strip of blue flannel to which is sewed Eagles feathers. This is one type another is the spear owned by "War Bonnet" a Dakota from Fort [?] S. Dakota. this consists of a shaft at the summit of which is a blade ten inches long. the shaft is ornamented with feathers toward the blade is a group of two with a collection of ribbons. a little below this is another, and at or near the end is a third. With such spears the Dakotas hunted and killed the buffalo. When the herd had been sighted. word was passed from lodge to lodge. (we would say Just here. that it was understood by "lodge" the collection of teepees owned by any one indian the teepee was the individual element. the lodge properly was the dwelling teepee.) and the braves prepared for a grand hunt. paint and feathers were applied and knives of the squaws sharpened. the bows and arrows spears made ready, and at the appointed time the band set off. It frequently happened thaat they had to follow the trail for some days before they came up with the herd. so soon as the buffalo were sighted the hunters would set off. Among the ponies owned by the indians certain of them were especially used to hunt buffalo. and in proceeding to the hunt these ponies were led while the owner rode another when the chase commenced he dismounted and mounted his buffalo ponies and with spear in hand bow and arrows if he had them strapped on his back he rode into the hunt. when all was ready with a shout of the war cry the hunter dashed upon the afrighted buffalo and rushing from one to another shot them through or thrust them with this spear thus disabeling [sic] them and these were dispatched subsequently by the slower riders and the squaws. In this way the buffalo were chased till the strength of the poney was exhausted. the indian never tiring of the sport each man [?] killed usually five or six a day.