BUSHNELL] VILLAGES WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI 7 
such a-scene may be quoted. It refers to a place in the upper Mis- 
sourl Valley, not far from a Mandan village, and was written June 
22. 1811: 
“We arrived on the summit of a ridge more elevated than any we 
had yet passed. From thence we saw before us a beautiful plain, as 
we judged, about four miles across, in the direction of our course, 
and of similar dimensions from east to west. It was bounded on all 
sides by long ridges, similar to that which we had ascended. The 
scene exhibited in this valley was sufficiently interesting to excite 
even in our Canadians a wish to stop a few minutes and contemplate 
it. The whole of the plain was perfectly level, and, like the rest of 
the country, without a single shrub. It was covered with the finest 
verdure, and in every part herds of buffaloes were feeding. I counted 
seventeen herds, but the aggregate number of the animals it was 
difficult even to guess at: some thought upwards of 10,000.” (Brad- 
bury, (1), pp. 184-135.) And this was but one of innumerable similar 
scenes to have been witnessed throughout the wide range of the vast 
herds. 
“The Indians say . . . that in travelling over a country with 
which they are unacquainted they always follow the buffalo trail, for 
this animal always selects the most practicable route for his road.” 
(Warren, (1), p. 74.) This is a well-known fact, and many roads 
both east and west of the Mississippi which have now developed into 
important highways owe their origin to this cause. 
The story of the buffalo will ever be one of interest, becoming more 
and more so as the years pass; and so it is gratifying to know that 
nearly all the available information bearing on the customs of the 
animal, the migration of the herds, their ancient habitat, and their 
rapid reduction in numbers was some years ago brought together and 
preserved in a single volume. (Allen, (1).) This was done while 
the buffalo were still quite numerous, and many facts recorded were 
derived from hunters or others acquainted with the customs of the 
times. 
VILLAGES AND FORMS OF STRUCTURES. 
The villages as well as the separate structures reared by the many 
tribes who formerly occupied the region treated in the present work 
presented marked characteristics, causing them to be easily identified 
by the early travelers through the wilderness of a century ago. The 
mat and bark covered wigwam predominated among the Algonquian 
tribes of the north, although certain members of this great linguistic 
family also used the skin tipi so typical of the Siouan tribes of the 
plains, while some of the latter stock constructed the earth lodge 
71934 °—22——-2 
