78 THE AMERICAS BISOXS. 



buffalo on the Atlantic slope, north of the Potomac, are the following. One 

 often quoted is that contained in a letter from Mr. Anthonie Parkhurst to 

 Richard Hakluyt, dated 1578, concerning the "true state and commodities of 



they say some Lyons also; for they have been seen at Cape Anne. Also here are severall sorts of Deere, 

 some whereof bring three or four young ones at once, which is not ordinarie in England. Also Wulves, 

 Foxes, Beavers, Otters, Martins, great wild Cats, and a great Beast called a Molke [moose] as bigge as an 

 Oxe. I have seen the skins of all these Beasts since I came to this Plantation, excepting Lyons. Also 

 here are jrr ea t store of Squerrels, some greater, ami some smaller and lesser; there are some of the lesser 

 sort, they tell me, that by a certaine Skin will fly from Tree to Tree though they stand fane distant." — 

 Forck'S Coll. Hist. Tracts, Vol. I, No. 12, p. 8. 



Thomas Morton, in his "New English Canaan," printed in 1632, devotes six pages to a description of 

 the "beasts," giving very quaint and curious descriptions of all the more important, but makes no refer- 

 ence to any animal like the buffalo. 



Father Andrew White, in describing Maryland in 1632, says, "But so great is the abundance of swine 

 and deer that they are rather troublesome than advantageous. Cows also are innumerable, and oxen suit- 

 able for bearing burdens or for food ; besides five other kinds of large beasts unknown to us, which our 

 neighbors admit to their table. Sheep will have to be taken hence or from the Canaries : asses also, and 

 mules and horses. The neighboring forests are full of wild bulls and heifers, of which five hundred or six 

 hundred thousand are annually carried to Saville from that part which lies towards New Mexico. As 

 many deer as you wish can be obtained from the neighboring people. Add to this muskrats, rabbits, 

 badgers, and martens, not however destructive, as with us, to eggs and hens. ' — A Relation of the 



Cot, mi/ „f the Lord Baron of Baltimore, in Maryland, near Virginia, etc. (Force's Coll. Hist, Tracts. Vol. 

 1 V. Xo. 1 2, pp. 6, 7.) 



In '• A Perfect Description of Virginia," printed in London in 1649. is given a list of the •• Beasts great 



and small as followcth : above -.'ii severall kinds." including all the larger specie's, bat no reference is made 



to the boffalo. — Force's Cell. Hist. Tracts, Vol. II. Xo. s, p. ie. 

 In an " Account of Virginia in General], but particularly ' 'mot, ma. which comprehends Roanoak and the 



Southern parts of Virginia," printed in 1650, it i* said. " Nor is the Land any lesse provided of native 

 Flesh, Bikes bigger then Oxen, whose hide i- admirable Buffe, flesh excellent, and may be made, if kept 



domesticke, as usefull (or draught and carriage, as Oxen. Deere in a numerous abundance, and delicate 

 Venison, R u II ires, Conyes, Bevers, Squirrell, Beares, all of a delightfnl] nourishment for food, and 

 their Furres rich, warme, and convenient for clothing and Merchandise." — Force's Coll. Hist. Tracts, 

 Vol. Ill, Xo. II, pp. 11, 12. 



Clayton, in bis very detailed account of the natural products of Virginia, written in 1688, says, "There 

 were neither Horses, Bolls, Cows Sheep, or Swine, in all the Country, before the coming of the English, 



H 1 have h oil, and have much reason to believe ad COWS there arc now in the nnin- 



habited Parts, but such only as have been bred from some that have Btrayed, and becomi wild, ami have 

 propagated their kind, and arc difficult to be shot, having a great A< ntenest of Smelling." — Fori 

 Hist Tracts, Vol. HI, X,,. i •_>. 



This leads to the inference that the rrequenl sllnsioni to wild bulls and wild rmrs in the early accounts 

 of Virginia, etc., ofti ; to domestic cattle thai bad inn wild. 



Many i Stations of ., similar character might !»■ added, containing curious ami Interesting descriptions of 



ml ti I the enumerations include the buffalo. As these descriptions of tin- coontrj and 



it- products were mostly prepared for the purpose ol encouraging emigration, it i< not presumable that 



so important an animal a- the buffalo would have l»'i ted II these earl j writers had evei beard 



an] pari ol tin' c u i« thi > di « i ibe 



