THE AMERICAN BISONS. 183 
sippi River. The fur-hunters and trappers appear to have begun at this date 
to contribute appreciably toward their rapid diminution, but not until the 
establishment of the “overland trails,’ and the constant passing of large emi- 
grant parties across the plains, did their numbers here become very greatly 
diminished. Steadily pressed back on their eastern boundary by advancing 
Settlements, they were at the same time rapidly thinned along the line of 
the great emigrant routes. These thoroughfares becoming from year to year 
more numerously travelled, especially the more northern route by way of 
the South Pass, the buffaloes were driven to the right and left of the line 
of travel, till finally by this intersection their range was divided into two 
essentially distinct regions. The construction of the Union Pacific Railroad 
completely severed the northern from the southern herds, while the Kansas 
Pacific and the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fé Roads opened up new high- 
ways to their most populous holds. In the mean time adventurers and 
miners either gradually exterminated them in the parks and valleys of the 
mountains, or drove them eastward into the plains, while they were at the 
same time preyed upon by the great buffalo-hunting parties from the Red 
River Settlements and the United States, until they have dwindled to a few 
hard-pressed bands lingering chiefly in the least-frequented parts of their 
formerly almost undisturbed haunts. 
A century ago the rapid extermination of the buffalo had begun to attract 
the attention of travellers, Romans, as early as 1776, alluding to the wanton 
destruction of “this excellent beast, for the sake of perhaps lus tongue only.” * 
As early as 1820 Major Long thought it highly desirable that some law 
should be enforced for the preservation of the bison from wanton destruction 
by the white hunters, who, he said, were accustomed to attack large herds, 
and from mere wantonness slaughter as many as they were able and leave the 
carcasses to be devoured by the wolves and birds of prey.t 
Gregg, in 1835, also alludes to the wanton slaughter of these animals by 
travellers and hunters, and the still greater havoc made among them by the 
Indians, who often kill them merely for their skins and tongues. Their total 
annihilation he regarded as only a question of time, although he believed 
that if they were only killed for food, their natural increase would perhaps 
replenish the loss. Almost every intelligent traveller who has crossed the 
* Natural History of Florida, p. 174. 
+ Long’s Expedition, Vol. I, p. 482, 
{ Commerce of the Prairies, Vol. IT, p- 213. 
