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Hunters Make Ready for the Buffalo Hunt
If the buffaloes had been descried at a distance, the
women with the pole and the hide stood in their places until the tribe was
ready to move, and then they, with the seven principal chiefs, wearing their
robes ceremonially, led the advance to the designated camp. If, on the
contrary, the runners had detected the herd in the near vicinity, the women
returned to their respective sacred tents, and the soldiers rode about the
camp enjoining silence and holding the excitement in check, ordering all
dogs to be tied up. If the dogs should bark they must be killed, and if the
boys should shout they must be whipped by these officers of the law.
In silence the hunters make ready, every one helping to
speed their departure. Each man is attended by one or two mounted boys who
lead the fast hunting-horses and the steady old ones to bring in the meat.
The bearers of the wa-sha-bae and the pipe are the first to leave the camp,
going on together until they come within sight of the herd, where they
dismount and sit waiting for the hunters to come up. The soldiers are also
there to prevent any one from passing beyond. When all have assembled, the
hunters divest themselves of their clothing, with the exception of the
breech-cloth and moccasins, toss their discarded garments to the attendant
boys, mount their fresh, fleet horses, and are ready to follow the bay and
pipe bearers, who now advance, running against the wind, diverging from each
other, and, one going to the right and the other to the left, passing
entirely around the herd. The hunters, in two parties, follow. When the two
bearers meet, the bay is thrust into the ground and the pipe tied to it;
this is the signal to the soldiers, who give the word "Go!" and the hunters,
with shouts and yells, rush upon the bewildered buffaloes from all sides,
shooting, and driving the herd toward the camp. Up to this time, if any one
had broken from the ranks, the soldiers would have scourged him back by a
whip of small cords on his bare body.8
Two boys appointed by the leader have been sitting at
the spot where the hunters divided, waiting for the signal of attack. As
soon as the first buffaloes fall they rush toward them, dodging in and out
among the men and animals, and in a peculiar manner cut out the tongues and
hearts. When they have secured as many as they can string upon their bows,
they start for the camp, running a race to the sacred tent of the
buffalo-hide, where they deposit their burden, which is to be cooked and
eaten at a ceremony to take place that night. Four times during the annual
hunt these boys, on foot, with unstrung bows and no arrows, must perform
their hazardous task to provide for this repeated ceremony.9
The day's hunt over, mingled emotions excited by its changing scenes still
linger, to be revived again and again around the camp-fire. The sunlight and
shadow on the rolling prairie where the peaceful herd is grazing; the
unsuspected environment of the horsemen; the sudden wild tumult of the
onslaught; the trampled grass covered with the dead and dying; here a
wounded bull shielding with his huge body the frightened cow from a
persistent hunter who has spent his quiverful of arrows upon the faithful
guardian, and now waits a chance to send his last shaft into the coveted
game ; yonder the crying calves, seeking their lost mothers-these scenes,
compelled by man's necessity, exercise no small influence upon the mind of
the Indian, binding, as they do, life and death together in one inexorable
bond, and tincturing his thought with a tinge of fatalism. But the practical
work of securing the results of the chase is now all-absorbing.
No man was in haste to claim his game the moment it fell, because his arrows
had some peculiarity in their decoration by which they could be identified,
and later his bullets were marked. The Omahas were expert hunters, and many
a man could boast of having sent an arrow clean through one buffalo to lodge
in a second beyond.
The flaying and cutting up of the animal takes place upon the field, and the
meat and pelts are packed upon the ponies in charge of the boys. The method
of skinning and dividing the buffalo, ells, and deer is according to fixed
rules: there are twelve cuts, four specified ones, with the hide, belonging
to the slayer of the animal. The first man who comes to assist in the
cutting up of the game is entitled to his choice of two of the remaining
pieces, with the exception of " the breast," which is always the property of the last to give his services. This disposition
of the pieces gives opportunities to the poor and the luckless to obtain
provision for themselves and their families. If a hunter has borrowed a
horse or a weapon, half of his share must go to the owner.
7 In-stha-sunda, Hun-ga-chey-nu, are
the names of the two sides of the Hoo-thu-ga. This was the manner of
addressing the entire tribe. The cry, "pity me who belong to you," was an
appeal to the honor and compassion of the people to avoid all dissensions
and imprudence's that might bring disaster, since any trouble would fall
upon him, the leader, who by virtue of his office represented the people,
suffered for them, and was responsible for their welfare even to the
sacrifice of his own life.
8 These soldiers were men known to be intrepid and
impartial; no leniency was shown to any one breaking the rules of the hunt;
any resistance to the soldiers was severely punished, and cases have
occurred where a hunter has been so severely, wipped as to be paralyzed.
9 1f one of these boys is seen running toward a
fallen buffalo, the slayer of it may not touch his game until the heart and
tongue have been secured, as they are to serve a sacred purpose.
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Omaha Hunting Customs
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