110 THE AMERICAN BISONS. 



instantly to the wilderness in an unusual run, without tasting their favorite 

 spring, or licking the impregnated earth, which was also once their most 

 agreeable occupation; nor did they, nor any of their race, ever revisit the 

 neighborhood. 



"The simple history of this spring," he adds, "is that of every other in 

 the settled parts of this Western world; the carnage of beasts was every- 

 where the same; I met with a man who had killed two thousand buffaloes 

 with his own hand; and others, no doubt, have done the same. In conse- 

 quence of such proceedings, not one buffalo is at this time [in 180G] to 

 be found cast of the Mississippi, except a few, domesticated by the curious, 

 or carried through the country on a public show." * 



Warden also refers to the former existence of buffaloes in the western 

 part of Pennsylvania, and to their early extinction there and in Kentucky! 

 Gallatin says: "The name of Buflalo Creek, between Pittsburg and Wheel- 

 ing, proves that they had spread thus far eastwardly when that country 

 was first visited by the Anglo-Americans." t Further to the southward, in 

 Wesf Virginia, in the valleys of the Kanawha and its tributaries, as well as 

 thence westward, the former abundance of the buffalo is well attested. 



One of the earliest references to the existence of the buflalo in West 

 Virginia is that contained in the journal of the Rev. Daniel Jones, who in 

 1772 made a journey to the Indian tribes west of the Ohio River. Under 

 date of June 18, 1772. he writes : "Went out to view the land on east side 

 [of the Little Kanawha] to kill provisions. Mr. Owens killed several 

 deer and a stately Imlliilo bull. The country is here level, and the soil not 

 despicable."! In speaking of that part of the valley of the Ohio near the 

 mouth of the "Great Guiandot," he Bays, under date of January, 177-">: 

 "In this part of the country even in this season, pasturage is so good 

 thai creatures are well supplied without any assistance. Here are grenl 

 abundance of buffalo, which are a species of cattle, as some suppose, left 

 here by former inhabitants." In describing the country about Wheeling 

 (* Weeling "), he says: -The wild beasts me! with here are bears, wolves, 

 panthers, wild cats, foxes, raccoons, beavers, otters, and some few squirrels 



and rabbits ; buffaloes, deer, and elks, called by the Delawares m008." \ 



• A he (Thomas), Travels In America, performed In 1806, for tl"' purpose of exploring the Rivera All.'- 

 ghany, Monongnhclo, Ohio, and Mississippi, etc. pp. i : \9. London, ; 

 t Warden d> l'..i. Si itistical, Political and rlistorli al ka ounl of the United State*, Vol. I. p. MO. 

 Bthnol. 8oc . Vol. II, p. I. 

 .' ■ rrnal of Two Visits, etc., p. 1 7. 

 | Ibid., pp 



