Lot Essay
Beginning in 1851 the Arikara and Hidatsa were issued annuities, including beef. At this point in time the government was importing Shorthorn cattle from Germany and these were often issued, on the hoof, as annuities to the various tribes. In 1891 the Hidatsa and Arikara were first issued their own cattle. Every cow and steer was branded at this time, the Hidatsa cattle on the right thigh and the Arikara on the left thigh. On this hide, from a Shorthorn yearling, there is no brand, which leads to speculation that it came from the earlier annuity shipments. (For a comparable piece collected by Gabriel André, see Brasser, Ottawa, 1976, plate 36)
Paul Raczka March 14, 2000
Paul Raczka March 14, 2000