"A great abundance of wild cattle are also found there, which might be
domesticated by rearing up the young calves." Whether these animals were
buffaloes might be considered an open question but for the following
additional information, which affords positive evidence: "The trade in
furs and peltry would be immensely valuable and exceedingly profitable.
We could also draw from thence a great quantity of buffalo hides every
year, as the plains are filled with the animals."

In the same volume, page 47, in a document entitled "Annals of Louisiana
from 1698 to 1722, by M. Penicaut" (1698), the author records the
presence of the buffalo on the Gulf coast on the banks of the Bay St.
Louis, as follows: "The next day we left Pea Island, and passed through
the Little Rigolets, which led into the sea about three leagues from the
Bay of St. Louis. We encamped at the entrance of the bay, near a
fountain of water that flows from the hills, and which was called at
this time Belle Fountain. We hunted during several days upon the coast
of this bay, and filled our boats with the meat of the deer, buffaloes,
and other wild game which we had killed, and carried it to the fort
(Biloxi)."

[Note 11: Hist. Coll. of Louisiana and Florida, B. F. French, 1869,
first series, p. 2.]

The occurrence of the buffalo at Natchez is recorded,[12] and also (p.
115) at the mouth of Red River, as follows: "We ascended the Mississippi
to Pass Manchac, where we killed fifteen buffaloes. The next day we
landed again, and killed eight more buffaloes and as many deer."

[Note 12: Ibid., pp. 88-91.]