THE PRAIRIE. 41 



ing and clashing, as they crossed the water, was heard 

 for hours. Such are the numbers in which these great 

 creatures roam about their native prairies. 



It is said that the buffalo is not naturally a fierce ani- 

 mal ; but its looks are against it. Its huge head, and 

 rough beard and mane, are not unlike those of a lion, 

 only much larger in proportion to the size of its body. 

 When urged to its speed these are tossed about in what 

 appears to be a most threatening manner ; but the poor 

 beast does not mean mischief, unless his pursuers drive 

 him to it ; and then, woe betide all that come in his 

 way ! 



The Indians sometimes manage to slaughter even the 

 largest herds of buffaloes, in what may be called a whole- 

 sale way. In order to make it intelligible, some descrip- 

 tion of the nature of these prairies is needful. They are, 

 as has been said, vast undulating plains, studded here 

 and there with clumps of park-like timber ; but these 

 plains are occasionally broken up by great clefts or 

 canons, which go suddenly, and almost sheer dowa for 

 many hundred feet. Mr. Kendall, in his account of the 

 Santa Fd expedition, relates that he and his party were 

 traversing one of these plains, in which no break of the 

 surface could be perceived far as the eye could reach, 

 when all at once they found themselves on the brink of 

 one of these tremendous chasms. Its almost perpendi- 

 cular depth beneath their feet was near three hundred 

 yards, and it was from three to five hundred yards wide. 

 A slender stream, now hidden by some huge rock, now 

 bubbling again into view, coursed along the bottom, 

 wearing its channel into fantastic shapes : The depth, 



