The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-04-26
THE BUFFALOES IN TEXAS.

The stories this night in camp were all IN re-
lation to bufaloes, the,abundance of signs in the
shape of tracks, and places where the grass had
been eatea close plainly denoting that we were
in the vicinity of large herd. The old cam
paigner, and there were many among us, told
stories of the immense number they had seen at
time, while the harun,-scarum youngsters Of the
camp would listen eagerly to their tales, mani
testing at the same time restless Impotence TO
be amongthe huge monarchs of the prairies.
How many buffalo did you ever see at one
time e. asked young man, whose greatest
achievement had been the bringing down of fat
buck, addressing one Of the oldest backwoodsmen
in camp
"Can't say exactly-probably between two
and three million ~ replied the old one, with
cool, matter-of-fact Indifference as much as to
say that he was keeping as near the truth as pos
sible.
was an attentive listener to this conversation,
and could not but remark the singular expression
on the countenance of the young man. At first,
he partially closed his left eye, and opened his
right to its utmost width, gazed intently in the
face Of the old hunter with look half comic, half
increduous. Then, as if thinking ne might not
have fully understood the answer to his question,
he turned his head to one side somewhat after the
manner of a hog in an oak grove listening for the
fail OF an acorn and curving his left hand into the
80 as to be certain of hearing every word, he
again addressed his older and more experienced
friend with Perhaps | mistook your answer
what number of buffalo did you say you had seen
at one time :"
Betweed two and three million ;" repeated
the old one, with countenance as immovable as
though it had been made of cast iron.
"Y-e 81 drawled the youngster, with that pc
culiar tone and expression which signify that one
| Lol;a hall or nr in
other words, ntimatng that while he did not
wish the old campaigner to think he altogether
discredited the number, he was at the same time,
anxious to avoid being considered over credulous
by entirely swallowing story which might pos
sby be intended as quiz. AS tor myself, DID
not believe word the old hunter said, but rather
thought he was INDUCING an appetite for which
all of his class are notorious that OF stretching
their stories far beyond the line between the pro-
bable and incredible" Since, then, however
in fact the very next day. "saw sights" which
induced me to alter my mind, and to give the
aged borderer more credit for keeping within the
bounds of probability than | was at first willing
to accord him. | do not say that have seen
between two and three million" at the same
| time, but ! have stood upon a high roll OF the
prairie, with neither tree nor bush to obstruct
the vision in any direction, and seen these ami
mails grazing upon the plain and darkenng it at
every point There are, perhaps, larger herds of
| buffalo at present in northern Texas than any
where else on the western pralries-tber most
formidable enemies, the Indians, not ranging SO
low down in large parties, on account of the
whites; but was told that every year their
| numbers were gradually decreasing, and their
| range, owing to the approach of white settlers
| fro the east and south, becoming more and more
crcumscrbed. 1t would seem almost impossible
especially 10 one who has seem them, numerous
as the sands of the seashore, on their immense
natural pastures, that the race can ever become
extinct, but when he reflects upon the rapid
strides civilization is making westward upon the