“‘I have often,’ says [George] Catlin, describing the capture of buffalo calves after the death of their mothers, ‘in concurrence with a known custom of the country, held my hands over the eyes of a calf, and breathed a few strong breaths into his nostrils; after which I have, with my hunting companions, rode several miles into our encampment with the little prisoner busily following the heels of my horse the whole way, as closely and affectionately as its instinct would attach it to the company of its dam. This is one of the most extraordinary things that I have met with in the habits of this wild country; and, although I had often heard of it, and felt unable exactly to believe it, I am now willing to bear testimony to the fact, from the numerous instances which I have witnessed since I came into the country.’

“In describing the capture of wild horses by the lassoo, he also says: — ‘He (the hunter) gradually advances until he is able to place his hand on the animal’s nose and over its eyes, and at length to breathe in its nostrils, when it soon becomes docile and conquered; so that he has little else to do than to remove the hobbles from its feet, and lead or ride it into camp.’

“This is probably the secret of the horse whisperers, whose proceedings have been described to me as being very similar.”