I20 AUDUBON 



some accident must have befallen him. Harris and Mr. 

 C. rode up to the cow, which expired at that moment. 

 The cow Mr. C. had killed was much the largest, and we 

 left a cart and two men to cut up this, and the first two 

 Owen had killed, and went to the place where the first 

 lay, to have it skinned for me. Bell joined us soon, bring- 

 ing a tongue with him, and he immediately began opera- 

 tions on the cow, which proved a fine one, and I have the 

 measurements as follows: "Buffalo Cow, killed by Mr. 

 Alexander Culbertson, July 27, 1843. Nose to root of 

 tail, 96 inches. Height at shoulder, 60; at rump, 55|. 

 Length of tail vertebrae, 13; to end of hair, 25; from 

 brisket to bottom of feet, 21 J; nose to anterior canthus, 

 loj; between horns at root, ii-|; between tops of ditto, 

 17^; between nostrils, 2\\ length of ditto, 2-|-; height of 

 nose, 3^; nose to opening of ear, 20; ear from opening to 

 tip, 5; longest hair on head, 14 inches; from angle of 

 mouth to end of under lip, 3^^. " Whilst we were at this, 

 Owen and Pike were hacking at their cow. After awhile 

 all was ready for departure, and we made for the "coupe" 

 at two o'clock, and expected to have found water to ena- 

 ble us to water our horses, for we had yet some gallons 

 of the Missouri water for our own use. We found the 

 road to the " coupe," which was seen for many, many miles. 

 The same general appearance of country shows through- 

 out the whole of these dreary prairies ; up one hill and 

 down on the other side, then across a plain with ravines 

 of more or less depth. About two miles west of the 

 "coupe," Owen and others went in search of water, but 

 in vain ; and we have had to cross the " coupe " and travel 

 fully two miles east of it, when we came to a mere puddle, 

 sufficient however, for the night, and we stopped. The 

 carts with the meat, and our effects, arrived after a while; 

 the meat was spread on the grass, the horses and mules 

 hoppled and let go, to drink and feed. All hands col- 

 lected Buffalo dung for fuel, for not a bush was in sight, 



