In This Issue: plus: - Primitive Archer Online

Four Lakota arrows circa 1870.
Private collection of Chris
Ravenhead, South Dakota.
Swiss
Connection
B y J a y R e d H a w k
The
– Part I
It was the fall of 1875 within the
Unceded Territory of Sioux hunting
grounds as dictated by the 1868
Treaty, and the last big hunt on horseback of
the season was taking place. It had been
discussed for several days after a herd was
spotted nearby and a plan was formulated by
the older, more experienced hunters.
“Buffalo Runner” horses were grazed
Another type of flared nock typical
of Lakota Sioux arrows.
well and watered by the young men. Even
these small, swift stallions knew what was
about to happen. They pranced and snorted
with excitement. Finally, they were brought
to their riders by nephews and sons. It was a
cool and cloudy day, excellent for running
horses and keeping bison meat cool while
butchering. There were no flies and there was
no glare from the sun.
Men strung their bows, checked their
arrows, and stripped down to moccasins and
loincloths. They mounted up, some with
lances and about two-thirds of them with
short 60- to 70-pound horse bows. Many of
them had trade rifles—flintlocks and
percussion cap, 54 caliber—but they
preferred the old way. It was much more
efficient.
The herd of 200 or more bison were
grazing in a draw when from behind them
came a band of screaming young men
flapping blankets and riding fast. The buffalo
raised their tails and ran forward in a panic
while the mounted Lakota came down on
their left and right flanks riding hard and
fast. Holding extra arrows points up, those
with bows drew back short and released their
deadly missiles into the sides of the Pte
(PTAY – buffalo cows) that would provide
meat and new robes.
The hunters blind-knocked as they reloaded
from their bow hand, shooting their
first four wahinkpe (wah-HEEN-kpay –
arrows) into their prey. Then reaching down
to the left, where hanging quivers with
quilled and beaded designs contained a dozen
or more deadly, metal-tipped shafts, they
reloaded until their quivers hung empty and
light. They fired arrow after arrow, sinking
them into the wooly hair and inch-thick hide
of the 700-pound heifers and 1300-pound
cows.
Over the mile-long stretch the Spanish
Mustangs were slowed down by their riders,
their small, taut frames heaving to breathe,
every muscle twitching from the excitement
and rigor of the chase. Looking back, Mato
Maza (mah-TOW mah-zah – Iron Bear) saw
An original 1838 Karl Bodmer copperplate
engraving in the museum.
www.PrimitiveArcher.com Volume 21 Issue 1 39