A BUFFALO-HUNT. 29 



without trouble : but the requisite amount of beef had been 

 obtained, and I was jealous of husbanding the strength of 

 my horse, for then, as now, but little reliance could be 

 placed on the professed peaceful intentions of the Indians. 

 The range of the buffalo, I have said, Was at one period 

 much more extensive than at present. The same reasons 

 that have decreased, and in some instances almost 

 annihilated, other genera, can be safely urged as the cause 

 of this the cultivation of wild lands and the unprecedented 

 increase of inhabitants on the American continent. On the 

 eastern limit of the Grand Prairie, in Indiana, I have 

 frequently found bones of the buffalo, telling too plainly 

 that this had once been his home. At the present day, at 

 least twelve hundred miles further westward must be 

 traversed before the sportsman can hope lor a chance to 

 use his rifle on this game; and year after year further 

 distances will require to be journeyed to accomplish this 

 purpose. Their southern limits are Northern Texas and 

 New Mexico, while the intermediate expanse up to sixty- 

 iive degrees of north latitude, according to the season, 

 contains them in more or less abundance. Of late years 

 their range north has been increased between three and 

 four degrees, so that Indians who formerly had to come 

 two hundred or more miles, if desirous of obtaining a 

 supply of beef for winter use, have the animals now on 

 their home hunting-grounds. I am disposed to believe 

 that this is caused from their finding these northern 

 regions less disturbed for this is far north of where the 

 constant tide of emigrants crosses the plains and that the 

 poor, persecuted creatures prefer suffering from the cold of 



