SWANTON] INDIAN TRIBES OF THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY 71

farther and make only a circle when they perceive that the animal is very
much fatigued. At that time they crouch almost to the earth when the deer
comes to their side, and as soon as it gets near them rise with shouts and drive
it from one side to the other so long as the deer is able to sustain itself. But
finally, not being able to do anything more from fatigue, its limbs fail it, it falls,
and allows itself to be taken like a lamb. They take care, however, to attack it
only from the runip, in order to escape any blow of its antlers or fore feet,
which, however, happens to tlenm sometimes in spite of all the precautions which
they take.
 Having seized the deer they present it to the great Sun, if he is present, or
to that one he has sent to give him this pleasure. When lie has seen it at his
feet and has said, It is good," the hunters cut open the deer and bring it
back in quarters to the cabin of the great Sun, who distributes it to the leaders
of the band who have gone on this hunt.a
 As noted in the account given by Dumont, the bison was sometimes
hunted like the deer. Anciently it appears to have ranged well down
toward the mouth of the Mississippi, but in Du Pratz's time it had
already retired some distance from the Natchez country. Still it
would appear that at certain seasons of the year hunting parties from
that tribe pursued it into its nearer grazing grounds. Regarding
this animal, after having given a description of it, Du Pratz says:
 This bison is the principal meat of lhe natives, and has also been for a long
 time that of the French. The best piece, and one which is extremely delicate,
 is the hump, of which I have just spoken. This animal is hunted in winter,
 anid at a distance from lower Louisiana and the river St. Louis [the Mississipli],
 because it is unable to penetrate there on account of the thickness of the woods,
 and besides it is fond of the tall grass which is found only in the plains of
 the highlands. In order to approacll and shoot it a person goes against the
 wind and tais at the shoulder, so as to knock it down at the tirst shot, for if
 i! is merely wounded it runs upon the nman. In this chase the natives usually
 kill the cows, having found that the flesh of the males smells badly (lc bouquin),
 an inconvenience from which it would be easy for them to preserve themselves
 if they knew as soon as the beast is dead to cut off the back sides (suites),
 as is done to stags and boars. That would not be the only advantage they
 would derive from it. The species would not diminish, much tallow would be
 obtained, and the skins would be better and larger.5
 Unless the hunt was far from home game was always brought into
 camp by the women:
 When the husband goes hunting near the village, if he kills a deer or bison
 he never brings it back to the house, but only the tongue of the last animal or
 the head of the first, which on arriving he throws at the feet of his wife, as
 much to pay her the homage of his hunt as to tell her to go and search for
 what he has killed. lie indicates to her about where lie has left the beast,
 and in order that she may le able to find it with more certainty he takes
 care on his return to break the branches of the shrubs along his route at in-
 tervals, a thing which marks the fact that he has passed there. The woman
 sets out with her slaves, if she has any, following the tracks of her husband,
 and when she has found the beast she brings it back to the cabin. There she
 cooks as much of it as she considers necessary, and sells the rest to the French,
 a Du Pratz, Hist. de La Louisiane, II, 60-73. b Ibid., 67-68.