Lances and Shields

Many of them also ride with a lance of twelve or fourteen feet in length . . . with a blade of polished steel; and all of them (as a protection for their vital parts), with a shield or arrow-fender made of the skin of the buffalo’s neck, which has been smoked, and hardened with glue extracted from the hoofs. . . These shields are arrow-proof, and will glance off a rifle shot with perfect effect by being turned obliquely, which they do with great skill” (Catlin 1973:33).