MtMan-List: MtMan List Re: Dogs back then...

[DAVE PARKS <kc7cnw@gte.net>]

For those who would like to see what types of dogs were in use by 
the Plains Indians (at least in 1851) you can find them here on this 
web-site. Look under "Collection of Images" then go to Images of the Fur 
Trade History....then look at the "Sketchbook of Rudolf Friedrick Kurs"
I have enjoyed his fine pencil sketches over the years. In this fine list 
of his sketches, you will find sketches of dogs every few plates.
      One must remember that these dogs had been in use by the Plains
Indians for at least 75 years or more when these sketches were made by 
Kurz. There were no special breeds...these dogs bread with whatever they 
ran into around the villages that was in heat. There was no specialized 
breeding any more than the villagers dogs in Africa or Mexico at this 
time. You can see in Kurz drawings that the dogs are of every description
this mainly because he was an attentive artist with a good eye.
      I noticed one hound in the lower right hand corner of one of his 
sketches that has all the features of a true hound dog. It takes a while 
to bring up all the sketches, but their content is well worth the effort 
and there are other great things of interest in this mans wonderful 
drawings, albeit they were done in the 1850's.
      Thanks for all the info. on John Johnston's final resting place  
near Cody. I wish I could have been able to leave my work and go with my 
friends that moved him from Sawtell Military Graveyard in L.A., I will 
get by to visit him someday. He was quite a fellow. And thank you Mike 
Katona for Juarez's phone number in Halfway, I'll give him a call. And 
I'll look you up too, next time I get down the Powder River shooting 
pheasants or catching Crappie on Brownlee Res. Take care.
                              Regards, Dave Parks (Manywounds)