Clarke and Cass, in their Report to Congress on February 4, 1829, p.

23, expressed themselves thus:--"The time when the Indians generally could supply themselves with food and clothing, without any of the articles of civilized life, has long since passed away.

The more remote tribes, beyond the Mississippi, who live where immense herds of buffalo are yet to be found and who follow those animals in their periodical migrations, could more easily than any others recur to the habits of their ancestors, and live without the white man or any of his manufactures.

But the buffalo is constantly receding.

The smaller animals, the bear, the deer, the beaver, the otter, the muskrat, etc., principally minister to the comfort and support of the Indians; and these cannot be taken without guns, ammunition, and traps.