86 THE AMERICAN BISONS. 



nesse." * Purchas also Bays, in his " Virginias Verger, or Discourse on Vir- 

 ginia." in enumerating the animals of Virginia. ■• I might adde Shag-haired 

 oxen, seen by Sir Samuel Argoll." 



The " Pembrook," or " Penbrooke *' mentioned in ArgoH's account has 

 generally been considered as the " Patowomeck," or one of its affluents, 

 but it was. I think, unquestionably the James, t The region visited by 

 Captain Batt must have also been somewhere on the head-waters of the 

 James. There is still traditional evidence that buffaloes formerly passed 

 eastward from the head-waters of the Great Kanawha in West Virginia to 

 this region. Professor Shaler, being aware of the existence of such names 

 as "Buffalo Springs"' and "Buffalo Ford." in the region of Amherst. Bath, 

 and Pocahontas Counties, Virginia, has made successful effort to ascer- 

 tain whether they indicated the former presence there of buffaloes. In 

 answer to his inquiries respecting the matter. Mr. C. W. Pritchett has 

 kindly sent him the following important information. Mr. Pritchett says 

 that the " old men " of that country affirm '• that the Buffalo Springs were 

 so named from a Salt Lick near by of that name, to which their fathers 

 were guided by the buffalo trails. The tradition is abundant and easily 

 verified, that buffalo and elk were numerous in that part of Virginia within 

 a period comparatively recent. These traditions are especially abundant 

 in Bath and Pocahontas Counties, lying between the Blue Ridge and the 

 Alleghanies. On the Cow Pasture River (which with the Jackson forms the 

 Jaines). in Bath County, a few miles below the Blowing Cave and Walla- 

 whatoola Springs I Indian name for Crooked River), is a salt lick, near which 

 they still show the deep-worn trail of the buffalo, at the point where they 



crossed the river, still called Buffalo Kurd There are men still living 



there whose lathers and grandfathers Baw the buffalo, and even. 

 instance, caught and domesticated them. "J In corroboration of the above 



• Purchas, V..1. IV, p. 1 ;>■:>. 



t II Patowomeck " mentioned l>v Argoll ("r Argall) i- evidently the Indian chief of tli.it name. 



and n.it the riwr "Patowomeck." Pun-has, in liis marginal notes t" ArgoU't letter, lays, -Hi* ti>M 

 and Pet&rookt Hirer," not Riven; and again, "The second voyage to P 



River." Argoll himself ipeaks of going t" "fetch Come from Patowomeck,'' for which purpose 1> n- 



tered Into Pembrooki River," and after obtaining lii- cargo "f corn he "hasted to ./■mi" Towne," and 

 later arrived at Point Comfort After distributing the corn 1»- returned again "into Ptmbrool 

 and made the discovery of s I Kine." Whilst engaged " in this bt 



.••■I the Idea "f going t" the "great Kin.' Patotoomo ck " for the purpose "t" obtaining pi 



of il Great Powkalan* Daughter Pofalw ilfs ." 



| Lett r to I Ho . July 81, 



