168 CANOES FROM BUFFALOES. get that imaterial, so they utilized a much superior ar- ticle, which was so common that it was no trouble ta procure; and just note how perfect a water craft they were able to make from the carcass of a buffalo, this being the method of making an "express" canoe: Af- ter the animal was killed, the head and legs would be cut off, then the flesh; in fact, everything would be scooped out outJI the hide could be turned inside out; all flesh was scraped off, then the leg holes would be sewed up with sinew as well as the hind part to keep it canoe-shape; then it would be turned to get the hair side out, when it was ready to make into a canoe. This was done by taking two saplings about two inches in circumference, the length of the body, then one end would be lashed together and pushed through the neck until it reached the hind part, then the ends protruding at the neck end would be cutoff at the proper length and tied together; the next operation would be to cut a hole toward the rump large enough to admit a man's body; then the bow to the gunnels was made by reaching in and fastening the necessary cross pieces, being the longest about the center and shorter toward the ends; then a sapling would be fastened to each end and bent downwards at the neck so as to make a graceful and water cutting prow; then some ribs would be put in by splitting small hickory saplings, making them the desired form. Now it is ready to sew up the neck, which is naturally the proper shape, for the neck makes a good natural prow; the hole for the Indian to kneel down in would be adjusted by a round hoop, having the hide rolled around it and fastened, of cotirse; this being done
