■ \ I -."^ 



154 



AUDUBON 



their own shyness, watchfulness, and agility, it is readily 

 seen what the hunter must endure, and what difficulties 

 he must undergo to near these "Wild Goats." It is one 

 constant time of toil, anxiety, fatigue, and danger. Such 

 the country! Such the animal ! Such the hunting! 

 August 16. Started from Fort Union at 12 m. in the 



' Shot five young Ducks, 

 high bluff. Good supper of 



Mackinaw barge " Union 

 Camped at the foot of a 

 Chickens and Ducks. 



Thursday, 17th. Started early. Saw three Bighorns, 

 some Antelopes, and many Deer, fully twenty ; one Wolf, 

 twenty-two Swans, many Ducks. Stopped a short time on 

 a bar. Mr. Culbertson shot a female Elk, and I killed 

 two bulls. Camped at Bufifalo Bluff, where we found 

 Bear tracks. 



Friday, 18th. Fine. Bell shot a superb male Elk. 

 The two bulls untouched since killed. Stopped to make an 

 oar, when I caught four catfish. " Kayac " is the French 

 Missourian's name for Buffalo Bluffs, original French for 

 Moose; in Assiniboin "Tah-Tah," in Blackfoot " Sick-e-chi- 

 choo," in Sioux " Tah-Tah." Fifteen to twenty female Elks 

 drinking, tried to approach them, but they broke and ran 

 off to the willows and disappeared. We landed and pur- 

 sued them. Bell shot at one, but did not find it, though it 

 was badly wounded. These animals are at times unwary, 

 but at others vigilant, suspicious, and well aware of the 

 coming of their enemies. 



Saturday, 19th. Wolves howling, and bulls roaring, 

 just like the long continued roll of a hundred drums. 

 Saw large gangs of Buffaloes walking along the river. 

 Headed Knife River one and a half miles. Fresh signs of 

 Indians, burning wood embers, etc. I knocked a cow 

 down with two balls, and Mr. Culbertson killed her. 

 Abundance of Bear tracks. Saw a great number of bushes 

 bearing the berries of which Mrs. Culbertson has given me 

 a necklace. Herds of Buffaloes on the prairies. Mr. Cui- 



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