BOURGEOIS - Toronto Public Library

THE RED RIVER (1793-1797) 279
of that numerous nation. Their dress consists of a buffalo Dress.
dressed skin, which they wear as the Saulteux or Augebois do
the blanket. Under this robe they wear a leather shirt, sometimes
with the hair on, but dressed in the same manner as their
robes. Their leggings are also made of dressed leather, those
for .the young folks are made of wolf, caberie and other skins
of a fine quality, which they dress as white and pliable as
chamois. Their shoes, as well as t.hose of the Crees) are always
made of buffalo leather the hair turned inwards which serves
them as socks. Their caps are of fox and fishers' skins, with
the head and tail of the beast tied so that the head of the 'wearer
is encompassed by it; the tail hangs down between the shoulders,
leaving the top or crown of the head without any covering.
As for their hair, they allow it to grow till it reaches their
knees, that is, 011 one side of the head, and they take as much
pains to keep it short on the other side. Lest this lock, which
hangs down on one side over their shonlder, should happen to
meet any violence when they intend to become intoxicated, they
coil it like a cable on the top of their head, which gives them
an uncouth aspect. This ridiculous custom is not peculiar to
the Assiniboils, the Crees follow it also.
These people generally winter together in large camps and, Buffalo
make what the French call, pares, an enclosure of wood in pam.
form of a fence and circular into which they drive whole herds
of buffalos. This seems to be an ancient cllstom amongst all
Indians inhabiting the plains, being a method that all travellers
through these parts speak of, and which they want neither
powder nor ball to execute.
The night previous to their sending for the buffalos, two or
more young men make themselve ready-by a harangue the
chief makes, for Indians know no command-to go and feteh
the buffaloE. Two, and sometimes even one, is sufficient to
bring them to the ranks where tufts of bushes and other obstacles