‘posts, give way to the beasts to escape. These penalties cons 
92 THE FORMER RANGE OF THE BUFFALO. 
‘In the southern and western parts of New France,* on both 
sides of the Mississippi, the most famous hunt is that of the buf- 
falo, which is performed in this manner : the hunters range the m- 
selves in four lines, which form a great square, and begin bys 
ting fire to the grass and herbs, which are dry and very high; 
as the fire gets forwards they advance, closing their lines. 
buffaloes which are extremely afraid of fire, keep flying from 
and at last find themselves so crowded together, that they arè — 
generally every one killed. They say that a party seldom returns 
from hunting without killing fifteen hundred or two thousai 
But lest the different companies should hinder each other, they 
agree before they set out about the place where they intend 
hunt. There are also some penalties appointed against those who 
transgress, this rule, as well as against those who, quitting th 
in giving a right to every person to strip those who are guilty, 
to take away even their arms, which is the greatest affront 
can be given to a savage; and to pull down their cabins. The 
chiefs are subject to this penalty as well as the others, and if amy 
were to endeavor to exempt them from this law, it would raise à 
civil war amongst them, which would not end soon.” 
“The bull, or buffalo, of Canada is bigger than ours; his h 
are low, black and short, he has a great beard of hair unde 
muzzle, and a great tuft of hair upon his head, which falls down 
over his eyes and gives him a hideous look. He has a great bum 
on his back, which begins at his hips, and goes on increasing | 
to his shoulders ; and this bump is covered with hair, somet 
reddish, and very long; the rest of his body is covered with b 
wool, which is much Valin, They say that the skin of the 
falo has eight pounds of wool on it. This animal has a large © 
the hind parts small, the tail very short, and one can scarce 
any neck it has, but its head is bigger than that of the Europ 
bull. He runs away generally at the sight of any per ect and 
hear enough to shoot him, you must. go against the wind. 
he is wounded he is furious and turns upon the hunters. He is’ 
*The whole of Canada together with the country on both sides of the Mi 
from e source to the gulf, was then claimed by the French, under the name ® 
Fran 
