Rocky Mountains. 473 



after which month the cows separate from the bulls, in dis- 

 tinct herds, and bring forth their calves in April. The calves 

 seldom separate themselves from the mother under the age 

 of one year, and cows are often seen accompanied by the 

 calves of three seasons. 



The meat of the bison has often been compared with that 

 of the domestic ox, and the preference yielded to the latter, 

 as an article of food. This decision, however, we cannot, 

 from our experience confirm; it appeared to us that although 

 of a somewhat coarser fibre, yet, after making due allowance 

 for the situation in which we were placed, our appetites 

 often increased by hunger and privation, that the flesh of the 

 bison is in no degree inferior in delicacy and sweetness to 

 that of the common ox. But that the flesh of those which 

 we were accustomed to eat was more agreeably sapid than 

 that which formed a subject of comparison to the authors 

 alluded to, is altogether possible, as the grass upon which 

 they usually fed was short, firm, and nutritious, considera- 

 bly differing in its nature from the luxuriant and less solid 

 grass nourished by a fertile soil. It was preferred by the 

 party to the flesh of the elk or deer, which was thrown away 

 when it could be substituted by the bison meat. 



To the fat of the bison we conceded a decided superiority 

 over that of the common ox, as being richer and sweeter to 

 the taste. 



As our stock of provision was nearly exhausted, permis- 

 sion was given, when we had arrived near a suitable place 

 for our mid-day halt, to the hunters to go out in pursuit of 

 bisons, and in a short time two were killed. The choice 

 parts of these were taken and placed upon pack-horses, to be 

 carried forward to our next encampment, where some of it 

 might be jerked on the ensuing day, which was Sunday. 



Aside from the vast herds of bisons which it contains, the 

 country along the Platte is enlivened by great numbers of 



vol. r. 60 



