124 THE AMERICAN BISOXS. 



the narrative, u having chased off the buffalo before the snow had become 

 deep, immense herds now came trooping over the mountains; forming dark 

 masses on their sides, from which their deep-mouthed bellowing sounded 

 like the peals and mutterings from a gathering thunder-cloud. In effect, 

 the cloud broke, and down came the torrent into the valley. It is utterly 

 impossible, according to Captain Bonneville, to convey an idea of the effect 

 produced by the sight of such countless throngs of animals of such bulk and 

 spirit, all rushing forward as if swept on by a whirlwind."* In the autumn 

 of 183-3 Parker met with great herds on the east fork of the Salmon River 

 and on other tributaries of the Snake River.f 



Dr. J. S. Newberry, writing in 1855, says: '-The range of the buffalo does 

 not //"/<• extend beyond the Rocky Mountains, but there are many Indian 

 hunters who have killed them in great numbers to the west of the moun- 

 tains, on the head-waters of the Salmon River, one of the tributaries of the 

 Columbia. While I was at the Dalles, the party of Lieutenant Day, U. S. A., 

 came in from an expedition to the Upper Salmon River, and I was assured 

 by the officers that they had not only seen Indians who claimed to have 

 killed buffalo there, but that, in many places, great numbers of buffalo skulls 

 were still lying on the prairie." $ 



Dr. Suckley, writing under date of December, 1853, also says: "Buffalo 

 were formerly in great numbers in this valley [the valley of the Bitter Root, 

 or St. Mary's River, one of the sources of Clarke's Fork of the Columbia], as 

 attested by the number of skulls seen and by the reports of the inhabitants. 

 For a number of years past, none had been seen west of the mountains; but, 

 singular to relate, a buffalo bull was killed at the mouth of the Pend d'< >reille 

 River, on the day 1 passed it. The Indians were in ureal joy at this, sup- 

 posing thai the buffalo were coining buck to them."§ dust east of the 

 mountains separating the sources of the Jefferson and Salmon Rivers, bufla- 

 1 II existed in immense numbers. Lieutenanl Mullan reports meeting, 

 on December I. |N.">:;. with several bands of the Ne/. I'etves Indians return- 

 ing from their hunt easl of the mountains, with many animals loaded with 



* Irving'! Rocky Mountains, pp. -.»"*. 211. 



t Parker (Sa I), Journal "f an Exploring Tour beyond il" Rocky Mountains, pp. 88, i"^. i |is - 



berry*! Zool< it •■! Exploration! for a Railroad Route 



from iIh' Sacramento Vallej tothi I I R I iplor and Surv., Vol. VI, Z 



Report, p. 7-.'. 



$ Suckley (Dt Geo I, Can \ h Fort Owen to Fort Vancourei Pacifi R R Explor. and 



1 knrernor 8tevena'i Report, . 



