Page:A Topographical Description of the State of Ohio, Indiana Territory, and Louisiana.djvu/178

168 with a spoon, throwing in a handful of corn, if they have it, with a small quantity of bear's oil; but make use of no seasoning of any kind. When it is ready to eat, the whole company, with ten or fifteen dogs, gather round it, and each one strives to get his share. They have no set times for their meals, but it seems to depend on the calls of hunger, and a disposition to prepare the food.

An animal is found in these plains, called Iele [sic] prairie chein, or prairie dog. It is smaller than the grey fox, and formed much like the dog. Its ears are pointed and stand erect, and the whole head very much resembles the dog. Its tail is long, slim, and of a dun colour. It digs holes and burrows in a light, loamy soil, and in the same holes, a small speckled snake takes shelter, which the Indians call the dog's guard. The Indians have many superstitious notions respecting these dogs. The Ay-oo-wars, or Nespeirce nation have a tradition that the human race sprang from this dog and the beaver. All other nations hold them in great veneration. A kind of deer were frequently killed here, called mule deer. It is smaller and of a darker colour than the red deer, having large, branched horns. The ears are very large; the tail about five inches long, with short dark hair, and at the end, a tuft composed of long, black hair. A species of the badger, called prarow, inhabits these plains. Its head much resembles the dog; legs short and