ALASKA, THE GREAT ICE LAND. 161 



pounds. The meat is worth more than ordinary meat 

 in Western markets, namely, about five-pence per 

 pound. The progeny of the male buffalo and the cow 

 exhibit plainly marked characteristics of both parents. 

 The short, thick horns of the male are modified, and 

 approach about half-way towards those of the female 

 parent in conformation and size. Similarly with 

 regard to the thick mane and forequarters and rela- 

 tively small flanks of the buffalo ; most points hold a 

 midway development, and likeness to both dam and 

 sire is pretty equally divided. The whole herd is 

 supposed to number about sixty head, but only 

 twenty were visible in our actual vicinity. Some 

 distant specks were discernible upon the horizon. 

 The distance was too great to allow us to decide 

 whether they were not horses, and time too short for 

 us to approach nearer. 



Just here no houses were visible as far as the eye 

 could penetrate over the shimmering plains, and we 

 imagined ourselves transferred to twenty years back, 

 and the lazy animals before us yet unacquainted with 

 man. But something indefinable marred the picture, 

 and reminded us of the poor Indians we had just seen 

 languishing away in the penitentiary from pure cur- 

 tailment of their liberty. Close by, a pintail duck 

 flapped from her nest in the grass as though she were 

 unable to fly, and actually caused the horses and 

 carriage to be turned in her pursuit till we discovered 

 the deception. Of course we left her nest undis- 

 turbed. 



M 



