146 NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION, 



of leagues below, at a spot called Prairie Percie by the French, it 

 appears to have forced its way headlong, till, meeting obstructions 

 from the primary rocks, it was again deflected south. At this 

 point, the whole face of the country has an exceedingly sylvan 

 aspect. It is made up of far-stretching plains, covered with grass 

 and wild flowers, interspersed with groves of oak, maple, and 

 other species. The elevation of these beautiful plains, above the 

 river, is not less than twenty to thirty feet, placing them above 

 the reach of high waters. We were now passing below the lati- 

 tude of 46°. Everything indicated a climate favorable to the 

 vegetable kingdom. While passing in the valley, through the 

 fine bends which the river makes, through these plains, we came 

 to a hunting-camp of probably one hundred and fifty Indians, 

 They were Chippewas, who, on landing at their camp, saluted us 

 in tlie Indian fashion, and were happy to exchange some dried 

 buffalo meat and pemmican, for corn and flour. Some miles 

 below we observed several buffalo, on the eastern shore, on the 

 sub-plains below the open bluffs. Alarmed by our approach, 

 these animals set out, with a clumsy, shambling trot, for the upper 

 plains. Clumsy as their gait seemed, they got over the ground 

 with speed. Our whole force was immediately landed, a little 

 below, and we eagerly climbed the banks, to engage in the sport 

 of hunting them. Quite a large drove of this animal was seen 

 on the prairie. Our best marksmen, and the Indians, immediately 

 divided themselves, to approach on different sides the herd. Cau- 

 tiously approaching, they fired ; the effect was to alarm and divide 

 them. Most of the herd pushed directly to the spot on the banks 

 of the river, where the non-combatants of the party stood ; and 

 there arose a general firing, and melee of men and buffaloes, which 

 made it quite doubtful, for awhile, who stood in greatest danger 

 of being hit by the bullets, the men or animals, I am certain the 

 bullets whizzed about the position I occupied on the top of the 

 alluvial cliffs. None of the herd were, however, slain at that 

 time ; but at our encampment, a short distance below, the flesh of 

 both the buffalo and elk was profusely brought in by the Indians. 

 It is stated that this animal lifts both the feet on one side, at the 

 same time ; but this remark, I presume, arises from a mode of 

 throwing its feet forward, which is decidedly different from other 

 quadrupeds. 



