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Apauk, Caller of Buffalo
The author of this work, James Willard Schultz, (1859 to 1947) was a noted author, explorer, Glacier National Park guide, fur trader and historian of the Blackfoot Indians. An Indian boy by adoption, J. W. Schultz has told his paleface brothers many good Indian tales. "Apauk, Caller of Buffalo", was a lad in the land and the days of the great buffalo herds. Apauk. a Blackfoot boy. was taught when young the art of calling buffalo.
A new type of the wooly, wild west Indian story appears in "Apauk, Caller of Buffalo." More thrilling than Action, the life story of the greatest of the Blackfeet medicine men, not only possesses an enthralling interest but gives the reader an authoritative historical picture of the life of the American Indian on the great western plains before the invasion of the white man. The biographer, James Wlllard Schultz, is an adopted member of the Blackfeet tribe and has lived the life of an Indian for forty years.
Schultz
"ALTHOUGH I had known Apauk A—Flint Knife—for some time, it was not until the winter of 1879—80 that I became intimately acquainted with him. He was at that time the oldest member of the Piegan tribe of the Blackfeet Confederacy, and certainly looked it, for his once tall and powerful figure was shrunken and bent, and his skin had the appearance of wrinkled brown parchment.
"In the fall of 1879, the late Joseph Kipp built a trading-post at the junction of the Judith River and Warm Spring Creek, near where the town of Lewistown, Montana, now stands, and as usual I passed the winter there with him. We had with us all the bands of the Piegans, and some of the bands of the Blood tribe, from Canada. The country was swarming with game, buffalo, elk, antelope, and deer, and the people hunted and were care-free and happy, as they had ever been up to that time.
Camped beside our trading-post was old Hugh Monroe, or Rising Wolf, who had joined the Piegans in 1816, and it was through him that I came to know Apauk well enough to get the story of his remarkably adventurous and romantic youth. The two old men were great chums. Old as they were —Monroe was born in 1798, and Apauk was several years his senior—on pleasant days they mounted their horses and went hunting, and seldom failed to bring in game of some kind. And what a picturesque pair they were ! Both wore capotes ——hooded coats made from three-point Hudson Bay Company blankets—and leggins to match, and each carried an ancient Hudson Bay fuke, or flint-lock gun. They would have nothing to do with cap rifles, or the rim-fire cartridge, repeating weapons of modern make. Hundreds—yes, thousands of head of various game, many a savage grizzly, and a score or two of the enemy—— Sioux, Cree, Crow, Cheyenne, and Assiniboine, had they killed with the sputtering pieces, and they were their most cherished possessions.
"Oh, that I could live over again those buffalo days! Those Winter evenings in Monroe’s or Apauk’s lodge, listening to their tales of the long ago! Nor was I the only interested always there was a complete circle of guests around the cheerful fire; old men, to whom the tales brought memories of their own eventful days, and young men, who heard with intense interest of the adventures of their grandfathers, and of the “ calling of the buffalo,” which strange and wonderful method of obtaining at one swoop a whole tribe’s store of Winter food, they were never to witness. For the luring of whole herds of buffalo to their death had been Apauk’s sacred, honored, and danger-fraught avocation. He had been the most successful caller the confederacy of tribes had ever known, and so close to the gods was he believed to be that the people accorded him a position more honored than that of the greatest chief. As will be seen, the man himself had most implicit faith in his medicine; his dreams, the wanderings of his shadow while his body slept, were as real to him as was any act of his in broad daylight."
Originally publ
A new type of the wooly, wild west Indian story appears in "Apauk, Caller of Buffalo." More thrilling than Action, the life story of the greatest of the Blackfeet medicine men, not only possesses an enthralling interest but gives the reader an authoritative historical picture of the life of the American Indian on the great western plains before the invasion of the white man. The biographer, James Wlllard Schultz, is an adopted member of the Blackfeet tribe and has lived the life of an Indian for forty years.
Schultz
"ALTHOUGH I had known Apauk A—Flint Knife—for some time, it was not until the winter of 1879—80 that I became intimately acquainted with him. He was at that time the oldest member of the Piegan tribe of the Blackfeet Confederacy, and certainly looked it, for his once tall and powerful figure was shrunken and bent, and his skin had the appearance of wrinkled brown parchment.
"In the fall of 1879, the late Joseph Kipp built a trading-post at the junction of the Judith River and Warm Spring Creek, near where the town of Lewistown, Montana, now stands, and as usual I passed the winter there with him. We had with us all the bands of the Piegans, and some of the bands of the Blood tribe, from Canada. The country was swarming with game, buffalo, elk, antelope, and deer, and the people hunted and were care-free and happy, as they had ever been up to that time.
Camped beside our trading-post was old Hugh Monroe, or Rising Wolf, who had joined the Piegans in 1816, and it was through him that I came to know Apauk well enough to get the story of his remarkably adventurous and romantic youth. The two old men were great chums. Old as they were —Monroe was born in 1798, and Apauk was several years his senior—on pleasant days they mounted their horses and went hunting, and seldom failed to bring in game of some kind. And what a picturesque pair they were ! Both wore capotes ——hooded coats made from three-point Hudson Bay Company blankets—and leggins to match, and each carried an ancient Hudson Bay fuke, or flint-lock gun. They would have nothing to do with cap rifles, or the rim-fire cartridge, repeating weapons of modern make. Hundreds—yes, thousands of head of various game, many a savage grizzly, and a score or two of the enemy—— Sioux, Cree, Crow, Cheyenne, and Assiniboine, had they killed with the sputtering pieces, and they were their most cherished possessions.
"Oh, that I could live over again those buffalo days! Those Winter evenings in Monroe’s or Apauk’s lodge, listening to their tales of the long ago! Nor was I the only interested always there was a complete circle of guests around the cheerful fire; old men, to whom the tales brought memories of their own eventful days, and young men, who heard with intense interest of the adventures of their grandfathers, and of the “ calling of the buffalo,” which strange and wonderful method of obtaining at one swoop a whole tribe’s store of Winter food, they were never to witness. For the luring of whole herds of buffalo to their death had been Apauk’s sacred, honored, and danger-fraught avocation. He had been the most successful caller the confederacy of tribes had ever known, and so close to the gods was he believed to be that the people accorded him a position more honored than that of the greatest chief. As will be seen, the man himself had most implicit faith in his medicine; his dreams, the wanderings of his shadow while his body slept, were as real to him as was any act of his in broad daylight."
Originally publ
- GenresHistoryNative American
142 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1916
56 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
James Willard Schultz
126 books30 followersJames Willard Schultz, or Apikuni, (born August 26, 1859, died June 11, 1947) was a noted author, explorer, Glacier National Park guide, fur trader and historian of the Blackfoot Indians.
James Willard Schultz (J.W. Schultz) started writing at the age of 21, publishing articles and stories in Forest and Stream for 15 years. He did not write his first book until 1907 at age 48. The memoir: ''My Life as an Indian tells the story of his first year living with the Pikuni tribe of Blackfeet Indians East of Glacier. In 1911, he associated himself with publishers Houghton Mifflin who published Schultz's subsequent books for the next 30 years. In all, Schultz wrote and published 37 fiction and non-fiction books dealing with the Blackfoot, Kootenai, and Flathead Indians. His works received critical literary acclaim from the general media as well as academia for his story telling and contributions to ethnology. Sometime after 1902, while living in Southern California, Schultz worked for a while as the literary editor of the Los Angeles Times.
James Willard Schultz (J.W. Schultz) started writing at the age of 21, publishing articles and stories in Forest and Stream for 15 years. He did not write his first book until 1907 at age 48. The memoir: ''My Life as an Indian tells the story of his first year living with the Pikuni tribe of Blackfeet Indians East of Glacier. In 1911, he associated himself with publishers Houghton Mifflin who published Schultz's subsequent books for the next 30 years. In all, Schultz wrote and published 37 fiction and non-fiction books dealing with the Blackfoot, Kootenai, and Flathead Indians. His works received critical literary acclaim from the general media as well as academia for his story telling and contributions to ethnology. Sometime after 1902, while living in Southern California, Schultz worked for a while as the literary editor of the Los Angeles Times.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 26, 2017
Interesting look at buffalo hunting
Even though American bison are my favorite animals, I know they were the life source of the Indians. This book was about the biggest hunt of all when They drove whole herds of the beasts over cliffs. An interesting read from a young Indian's step from child to warrior on his first successful Buffalo jump
Even though American bison are my favorite animals, I know they were the life source of the Indians. This book was about the biggest hunt of all when They drove whole herds of the beasts over cliffs. An interesting read from a young Indian's step from child to warrior on his first successful Buffalo jump
December 14, 2020
Another Relaxing Read
The writing style fits with the period of time the story takes place. I can imagine myself beside the characters during their daily struggles and triumphs. The sight of huge herds of buffalo come easily to mind while engrossed in this wonderful tale of of a young boy coming of age to take an honored place among his people.
The writing style fits with the period of time the story takes place. I can imagine myself beside the characters during their daily struggles and triumphs. The sight of huge herds of buffalo come easily to mind while engrossed in this wonderful tale of of a young boy coming of age to take an honored place among his people.
March 5, 2019
A very informative book.
This book was well written from a first person perspective. I fully enjoyed the read. Schultz, with his personal knowledge of the Blackfoot tribes, gives insights not many others can give.
This book was well written from a first person perspective. I fully enjoyed the read. Schultz, with his personal knowledge of the Blackfoot tribes, gives insights not many others can give.
July 22, 2019
Maybe, true
Easy reading, story passed down thru the years
More of a story of Indian lore than cultural specificity. But I have no true knowledge of such things, in Indian lore or practices.I have no real rite to judge this story.
Easy reading, story passed down thru the years
More of a story of Indian lore than cultural specificity. But I have no true knowledge of such things, in Indian lore or practices.I have no real rite to judge this story.
September 7, 2019
What a story!
Schultz having lived for 40 years with Indians either has the best memory or the best notes or combination thereof . But I do enjoy his books . I may have to read the rest of his books .
Schultz having lived for 40 years with Indians either has the best memory or the best notes or combination thereof . But I do enjoy his books . I may have to read the rest of his books .
January 2, 2018
Good first person account of some of the last great years of the Native Tribes in the West.
July 3, 2018
Good story
Not a bad adventure. Mostly about religious beliefs and what I would call superstitious imagination. But a good story about Indian culture .
Not a bad adventure. Mostly about religious beliefs and what I would call superstitious imagination. But a good story about Indian culture .
January 21, 2019
Excellent!
I love how James Schultz writes and explains. It is fascinating and and glimpse of the way of life that existed for hundreds of years.
I love how James Schultz writes and explains. It is fascinating and and glimpse of the way of life that existed for hundreds of years.
Read
August 12, 2020Flower shop
It's a shame that people always spoil a good thing, people always are after more of what they have today
It's a shame that people always spoil a good thing, people always are after more of what they have today
November 10, 2023
another awesome book
I really enjoy all the books by J. W. Schultz. Some of the best for that period. I definitely recommend it.
I really enjoy all the books by J. W. Schultz. Some of the best for that period. I definitely recommend it.
December 5, 2018
Very much enjoyed reading this book. Good insight into Native American life. James Willard Schultz is a great writer.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews