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grand finale of war whoops and yells, followed by a general laugh. After resting a few minutes, they would begin again as fresh as ever.

In dancing round the circle, the men advance close together in single file, treading gently with one foot after the other, and somewhat bent inwards; whilst the women advance sideways, leaning against each other's shoulders, and still preserving an upright position. Keeping their small feet close together, and turning their toes inwards, the latter glide over the ground without any violent motion of their feet, and scarce lifting them from the groundall without any apparent personal effort. The measure of the dance is exceedingly well kept by all, the ring being in almost constant motion, and the scalp-takers meanwhile shaking their poles.

The Indians appeared to be full of enthusiasm during the dance; all ages engaged in it, and, before I retired, some of the mothers brought two or three dozen of young children from four to ten years old into the circle, all of whom joined in the dance most merrily. Introduced into scenes of this kind at so early an age, and then trained up to the chase, it is not surprising that the Indian youth should afterwards find such enjoyment in taking human life. With the pleasures of the scalp-dance impressed upon his memory, and habituated to the butchery of animals, he takes up his tomahawk for the first time with about the same degree of feeling towards the individuals destined to be scalped, that an English boy entertains towards partridges when about to make his maiden effort in that line; and such is the intensity of the few pleasurable emotions which fall to the share of savage life, that, when the excited warriors have an enemy in their power, they experience an unutterable delight in inflicting upon the conquered, torments, the very recital of which fills us with horror. Featherstonhaugh.

TRAVELLING IN THE FAR WEST.

Ar the signal-note of the bugle, the sentinels and patrols marched in from their stations around the camp and were dismissed. The rangers were roused from their night's repose, and soon a bustling scene took place. While some cut wood, made fires, and prepared the morning's meal, others struck their foul-weather shelter of blankets, and made every preparation for departure; while others dashed about through brush and brake, catching the horses and leading or driving them into camp.

During all this bustle the forest rang with whoops, and shouts, and peals of laughter; and when all had breakfasted, packed up their effects and camp equipage, and loaded the pack-horses, the bugle sounded to saddle and mount. By eight o'clock the whole troop set off in a long straggling line, with whoop and halloo, intermingled with many a howl at the loitering pack-horses; and in a little while the forest, which for several days had been the scene of such unwonted bustle and uproar, relapsed into its primeval solitude and silence.

It was a bright sunny morning, with a pure transparent atmosphere, that seemed to bathe the very heart with gladness. Our march continued parallel to the Arkansas, through a rich and varied country; sometimes we had to break our way through alluvial bottoms matted with redundant vegetation, where the gigantic trees were entangled with grape-vines, hanging like cordage from their branches; sometimes we coasted along sluggish brooks, whose feeblytrickling current just served to link together a succession of glassy pools, imbedded like mirrors in the quiet bosom of the forest, reflecting its autumnal foliage and patches of the clear blue sky. Sometimes we scrambled up broken and rocky hills, from the summits of which we had wide views stretching on one side over distant prairies di

versified by groves and forests, and on the other ranging along a line of blue and shadowy hills beyond the waters of the Arkansas.

The appearance of our troop was suited to the country; stretching along in a line of upwards of half a mile in length, winding among brakes and bushes, and up and down the defiles of the hills; the men in every kind of uncouth garb, with long rifles on their shoulders, and mounted on horses of every color. The pack-horses, too, would incessantly wander from the line of march to cross the surrounding herbage, whence they were beaten in a manner that but poorly displayed the "quality of mercy." Every now and then the notes of the bugle from the head of the column would echo through the woodlands and along the hollow glens, summoning up stragglers, and announcing the line of march. The whole scene reminded me of the description given of bands of buccaneers penetrating the wilds of South America, on their plundering expeditions against the Spanish settlements.

At one time we passed through a luxuriant bottom or meadow bordered by the thickets, where the tall grass was pressed down into numerous "deer beds," where those animals had couched the preceding night. Some oak trees also bore signs of having been clambered by bears in quest of acorns, the marks of their claws being visible in the bark.

As we opened a glade of this sheltered meadow we beheld several deer bounding away in wild affright, until, having gained some distance, they would stop and gaze back, with the curiosity common to this animal, at the strange intruders into their solitudes. There arose immediately a sharp report of rifles in every direction, from the young huntsmen of the troop; but they were too eager, to aim surely, and the deer, unharmed, bounded away into the depths of the forest.

In the course of our march we struck the Arkansas,

but found ourselves still below the Red Fork, and as the river made deep bends, we again left its banks and continued through the woods until nearly eight o'clock, when we encamped in a beautiful basin bordered by a fine stream, and shaded by clumps of lofty oaks.

The horses were now hobbled, that is to say, their forelegs were fettered with cords or leathern straps, so as to impede their movements, and prevent their wandering from the camp. They were then turned loose to graze. A number of rangers, prime hunters, started off in different directions in search of game. There was no whooping nor laughing about the camp as in the morning; all were either busy about the fires, preparing the evening's repast, or reposing upon the grass. Shots were soon heard in various directions. After a time, a huntsman rode into the camp with the carcass of a fine buck hanging across his horse. Shortly afterward came in a couple of stripling hunters on foot, one of whom bore on his shoulders the body of a doe. He was evidently proud of his spoil, it being probably one of his first achievements, though he and his companion were much bantered by their comrades as young beginners who hunted in partnership. Just as the night set in there was a great shouting at one end of the camp, and immediately afterwards a body of young rangers came parading round the various fires, bearing one of their comrades in triumph on their shoulders. He had shot an elk for the first time in his life, and it was the first animal of the kind that had been killed on this expedition. The successful young huntsman was the hero of the camp for the night, and the "father of the feast" into the bargain; for portions of his elk were seen roasting on every fire.

Irving.

A BUFFALO HUNT ON THE GRAND PRAIRIE. AFTER proceeding about two hours in a southerly direction, we emerged towards midday from the dreary belt of the Cross Timber, and to our infinite delight beheld "the Great Prairie" stretching to the right and left before us. We could distinctly trace the meandering course of the main Canadian and various smaller streams, by the strips of green forest that bordered them. The landscape was vast and beautiful. There is always an expansion of feeling in looking upon these boundless and fertile wastes; but I was doubly conscious of it after emerging from our "close dungeon of innumerable boughs." From a rising ground we beheld several black objects moving in the distance, which were said to be part of the herd. The captain determined to shape his course to a woody bottom about a mile distant, and to encamp there for a day or two, by way of having a regular buffalo hunt, and getting a supply of provisions. As the troop defiled along the slope of the hill towards the camping ground, Beattie, the Indian guide, proposed to my messmates and myself that we should put ourselves under his guidance, promising to take us where we should have plenty of sport. Leaving the line of march, therefore, we diverged towards the prairie, traversing a small valley, and ascending a gentle swell of land. As we reached the summit, we beheld a gang of wild horses about a mile off. Beattie was immediately on the alert, and, no longer thought of buffalo hunting. He was mounted on his powerful half wild horse, with a lariat* coiled at the saddle bow, and set off in pursuit, while we remained on a rising ground, watching his manœuvres with great solicitude. Taking advantage of a strip of woodland, he stole quietly along, so as to get close to them before he was perceived. The moment

* Lariat, lasso, or rope with a noose at the end.

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