Besides eating it in enormous quantities, or sprinkling it in a mild decoction distilled from a few stray grains of coffee gathered at the garrison, sugar is also used as a preservative. By a peculiar process of applying it, they manage to keep buffalo-meat for a long time.

In every band there are those who are skillful workmen in the manufacture of implements and war-weapons. These are generally old men, whose days of war are over. In many cases, also, the squaws are very expert, and vie with the men in the character of their work.

The shield is made of a piece of raw-hide, very thick, taken from the shoulder of the buffalo. By way of ornament, after being cut in a circular form, the surface to be presented to the arrows of the enemy is covered with buckskin, which has generally, in the centre, a rude drawing of an animal. A loop on the inside serves for carrying the shield, and handling it as a means of defence. Bows are made of various materials, but principally of bois d'arc or Osage orange; hickory, cedar, and several other woods are used, but only in the absence of the Osage orange. The more powerful bows are reinforced with sinews, which not only add strength, but the elasticity and spring are greatly increased. Bows made of elk-horn are curious and often met with. They are greatly appreciated. The bowstring is made from the gut of the wild-cat, if it can be procured.

In the making of arrows, the greatest taste is displayed. By certain marks—either a groove along the shaft or the arrangement of the feathers-arrows can be distinguished from each other by tribes. The arrows are principally made of wildcherry. The blade is made of flint, or a piece of strap-iron, cut in the proper shape, polished, and sharpened on a whetstone, and fastened to the shaft by one end being inserted in a notch, and secured by a sinew. Crow and turkey feathers are chiefly employed for ornament and to direct the flight. The eagle feather is held in too high esteem for this purpose-that bird being the emblem of dignity. Eagle feathers are always

used in the war-bonnet. The war-club has now almost been abandoned. The pipes are made of red stone, with stems of ash, or some hard wood, with a hole burned through.

The traveler on the plains often meets with cairns upon the summit of hills-large stones arranged in peculiar forms-and pits of singular fashion. Aside from these and the great med-` icine-lodge, the progenitors of the wild tribes of the plains have lived, killed the buffalo, scalped their fallen foe, and set out upon the spirit of a horse for the happy hunting-ground, without leaving a trace of their existence. No curious remains, as encountered in the early seats of the Creeks, in the south, or the Delawares and the Shawnees, in the valleys of the Scioto and Muskingum, are to be found. Like the Beduin of the desert, upon his fleet steed the American savage has galloped over the plains, from the Missouri to the Rocky mountains, without fixed haunts, or a solitary spot which he might claim as particularly his own. The antiquarian will search in vain for the momuments of this vanishing race. That this people ever existed, will, in a few brief years, be known only from the page of history!

CHAPTER XXXII.

AN EXPLORING EXPEDITION TO THE WITCHITA MOUNTAINS.

LTHOUGH Fort Cobb occupied a central position in the favorite winter resort of the wild tribes, Sheridan had determined to abandon the post as soon as a more convenient one could be found. With this view he sent out a small expedition in the direction of the Witchita mountains to make an exploration of that wild section. On the evening of December 27, I was informed of the proposed expedition and received an invitation to join the party to leave on the following morning. Although the temperature was not of a character to inspire much ardor in the line of exploration and adventure, I accepted the invitation quite cheerfully. The packing of our establishment in front of headquarters created unusual mirth the next morning as a preliminary of our departure. Our mule, following the example of his progenitors, particularly in the male line, had a will of his own, and on this occasion he took care to use it. Three stalwart troopers, accordingly undertook to manage the animal, regardless of his views to the contrary. The exercises of the long-eared and agile quadruped were remarkable and ludicrous. Human ingenuity, however, triumphed. A blind was put over the animal's eyes. Unable to direct his efforts, his muleship suddenly became quite tractable. After the tent-fly and blankets were carefully adjusted, the load was finished off by a superstructure in the shape of a champagne basket stocked with ham and hardtack. By means of straps and ropes the cargo was securely fastened. The mule being laden, the covering over his eyes was removed. The moment the animal observed the transfor

mation which had taken place during the temporary obstruction of vision, he promptly renewed his physical demonstrations amid the orchestral rattle of pots and kettles dangling about his form, with more regard to convenience than beauty. After this prefatory flourish, the animal made several violent dashes in advance, at the same time indulging in that resolute manœuvre known as "bucking." But the cargo was immovable.

It was nearly nine o'clock in the morning when we parted with the Commanding General and his staff, and a few friends of the seventh, who had come to see us off. Our transportation was put in charge of an orderly, who firmly held one end of a cable while the mule had possession of the other. Our departure was not characterized by any solemn ceremonies, but had decidedly the cast of a farce. When released from his mooring, his muleship again seized the opportunity to renew his performances, which was ably done amid the laughter and shouts of every one. The mule planted himself suddenly, as if determined not to proceed an inch farther. A sentinel, near by, probed him with the point of his sabre. This unexpected demonstration had a wonderful effect. After a few more sudden pauses for contemplation of himself and reflections upon the situation, the mule finally yielded and went of expeditiously down the bank of the river, the trooper after him at a full gallop with orders to keep in motion.

Having the mule off our hands we joined the rest of the expedition at the headquarters of General Grierson. Here an escort of forty cavalry of the tenth, commanded by Lieutenant Doyle, were drawn up in line waiting orders to move. Our party, consisting of Generals Grierson, Hazen, and Forsyth, Major Woodward, Captain Clous, and the writer, set out with the escort, moving down the north bank of the Washita. On the way we were joined by McCusker, the interpreter, and Essetoyeh, our Indian guide, and his squaw. After passing the entire length of the Peneteghtka and Kiowa camps, which lay in the valley, we crossed the Washita, pursuing the course of a narrow cañon which led to the "divide." The day was

delightful. The sky was clear and the air bracing. In advance, a distance of several hundred yards, rode Essetoyeh upon a sorrel Indian war-steed of remarkable beauty, and celebrated for his speed.

Our guide scanned the horizon with all the vigilance and suspicion of his race, and frequently dashed to some neighboring eminence to catch a more extended view of the surrounding plain. The old savage sported a puritanical felt, such as the infantry wear in the army, with the amendment of a broad tin band around the crown and several streamers of red flannel. The rest of his dress was composed of an assortment of articles of apparel, buckskin leggins, moccasins, breech-clout, an infantry blouse, with a red shirt on the outside, a cavalry overcoat, and a buffalo robe. The squaw followed her master in all his evolutions, always a few paces at his heels. She was perched high up in the air, astride a pyramid of rations in a gunny sack. Essetoyeh evidently anticipated some fine hunting, and he brought his squaw with him to dress the meat, to prepare his food, and build for him a shelter of branches to sleep under at night. The rest of our little party followed the guide, keeping along in compact order to be ready to repel any attack.

The country over which we passed during the day was high and rolling, with a greater frequency of running streams, and more timber. In every ravine herds of antelope and deer started in our path, and a few good shots did not fail to secure for the whole party a fine repast. Several small herds of buffalo were seen in the distance, but set off at a gallop as soon as they noticed our approach. At three o'clock in the afternoon we reached a small running stream, with a pebbly bottom. Here it was resolved to pass the night. For protection, as well as convenience of wood and water, we selected a deep cañon, backed by the creek, and by high rocky bluffs. Here the packanimals were unloaded, and the horses unsaddled, and lariated in the broad valley, which swept away for a distance of several hundred yards from the abrupt sides of the narrow gorge. The valley was covered with a thick young growth, protected from