THE AMERICAN BISONS. 221 



1871 I made extensive inquiries as to the possibility of the buffalo being 

 domesticated and trained to work, and while the general opinion seemed to 

 be that such a thing was wholly feasible, I could not learn that it had been 

 properly attempted. I heard of instances where buffaloes had been broken 

 to the yoke, and, though strong and serviceable, they were at times rather 

 unmanageable. When on a journey they are liable, it is said, when thirsty, 

 " to break for water," rushing precipitately down the steep banks of the 

 nearest stream to slake their thirst, dragging after them the wagon to which 

 they may be attached, with, of course, rather unpleasant results. 



The fate of extermination so surely awaits, sooner or later, the buffalo in 

 its wild state that its domestication becomes a matter of great interest, and 

 is well worthy of the attention of intelligent stock-growers, some of whom 

 should be willing to take a little trouble to perpetuate the pure race in a 

 domestic state. The attempt can be hardly regarded otherwise than as an 

 enterprise that would eventually yield a satisfactory and probably a profit- 

 able result, with the possibility of adding another valuable domestic animal 

 to those we already possess. It seems probable, also, that a mixed race 

 might be reared to good advantage. 



