378 THE GOVERNOR'S NARRATIVE. 



GOVERNOR STEVENS'S LETTER. 



" AT THE FOOT or THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, May 8, 1S59. 



" Yesterday, after a ten miles' march, we overtook the 

 bisons. The herd extended in front and on each side of 

 us as far as our gaze could reach. 



" Our more enthusiastic companions estimated their 

 number at five hundred thousand, and the more moderate 

 among us brought down the figure to less than two hun- 

 dred thousand. 



" At noon, when we made our customary halt, we per- 

 ceived that an immense quantity had drawn near our 

 encampment. Immediately, our six hunters, mounted 

 on fresh horses, reserved especially for this purpose, 

 dashed in advance, and the whole company were able to 

 enjoy the stirring spectacle of a bison-hunt. 



" The hunter's galloped at their utmost speed, pene- 

 trated into the densest ranks of the savage quadrupeds, 

 and quickly disappeared, enveloped in an immense whirl- 

 wind of dust. Meanwhile, the column of bisons was greatly 

 agitated, and rushed forward, uttering the most formidable 

 roars ; to see their heads pressed one against another, you 

 would have said it was a rolling sea. The hunters darted 

 hither and thither, selecting the fattest cows, separating 

 them from the rest of the herd, and then bringing them 

 down without difliculty. When the fight was at an end, 

 our waggons immediately advanced to the scene of carnage, 

 and returned loaded with choice " joints" of bison. 



" The two following days, in order to keep the road 

 clear, we were compelled to send forward our hunters to 

 beat up the ' coverside.' But no sooner was the herd 

 dispersed, than it re-formed in our rear, and even mingled 



