Perhaps the most vivid picture ever afforded of the former abundance of
buffalo is that given by Col. R. I. Dodge in his "Plains of the Great
West," p. 120, _et seq._ It is well worth reproducing entire:

"In May, 1871, I drove in a light wagon from Old Fort Zara to Fort
Larned, on the Arkansas, 34 miles. At least 25 miles of this distance
was through one immense herd, composed of countless smaller herds of
buffalo then on their journey north. The road ran along the broad level
'bottom,' or valley, of the river. * * *

"The whole country appeared one great mass of buffalo, moving slowly to
the northward; and it was only when actually among them that it could be
ascertained that the apparently solid mass was an agglomeration of
innumerable small herds, of from fifty to two hundred animals, separated
from the surrounding herds by greater or less space, but still
separated. The herds in the valley sullenly got out of my way, and,
turning, stared stupidly at me, sometimes at only a few yards' distance.
When I had reached a point where the hills were no longer more than a
mile from the road, the buffalo on the hills, seeing an unusual object
in their rear, turned, stared an instant, then started at full speed
directly towards me, stampeding and bringing with them the numberless
herds through which they passed, and pouring down upon me all the herds,
no longer separated, but one immense compact mass of plunging animals,
mad with fright, and as irresistible as an avalanche.

"The situation was by no means pleasant. Reining up my horse (which was
fortunately a quiet old beast that had been in at the death of many a
buffalo, so that their wildest, maddest rush only caused him to cock his
ears in wonder at their unnecessary excitement), I waited until the
front of the mass was within 50 yards, when a few well-directed shots