The New York herald., 1845-01-18
Oregon Territory,

Hunting and Eating.
JAMES g. BENNETT, ESQ.,
DEAR SIR-In my letter of the 18th inst, GEN.
tinued my account of our trip TO our last encamp-
ment upon the waters of Blue. On the 18th day
of June we crossed the main dividing ridge be-
tween the waters of Kanzas and the Great Platte.
We travelled twenty-five miles over The finest road
imaginable, and our eyes first beheld the wide and
beautiful valley of the Great Platte just as the sun
was going down behind the bleak sand hills. We
eacamped in the bottom, about two miles from the
river, without fuel. Next morning we start
ed, without any breakfast, and travelled
few miles, where we found willows for fuel,
and where we took hearty meal. We
struck the river near the head of Grand
Island which seveniy-fve miles long, covered
with timber, and several miles WIDE, varying great
ly, in places, as to width but what was strange,
here was not solitary tree on the south side Of
the river where we were The river above the ISL
and, az far as the Forks. is generally about miles
rivers in the world Like the Nile, ii funs hun
dreds of miles through sandy desert. The valley
OF this stream is from Is to 20mes wide, smoo
level plain, and the river generally runs in the
middle OF 1t, from west 10 east The course oi
this stream Is more uniform than any hav.
EVER seen. It scarcely .ver makes a. bend
The Platte river was very high until after we
sandy banks, with sandy bottom, and the water
muddy, like that of the Missouri. The current IL
rapid, and the river being very wide, is very sha
low, and easily fordrd. except in high water. j.
is full OF most beautiful islands of all Sizes covered
with beautiful trees, contrasting timely with the
wild prairie plains and bold sanG hills on each side
of the river. The plain on each side of the river
extends out to the sand hills, which are about three
miles through them, when you ascend up to wide
prairie ain of almost interminable extent Upon
this plain, and sometimes in the sand hills. we
found the buffalo, and numbers ct white
ynlu In nlo he NV w 0pn
eally found the antelope. When the season is
wet. as was the case this season, the buffalo
resort to the plain beyond the sand hills, where
they find water in the ponds: AS the summe,
advances, and the ponds dry. up, they ap
proach the river, and are found in t.le plain nea'
i. You have, perhaps, often heard OF buffalo
olain, b, yond the sand-hils, through which you
must pass, you will find vallies among those hills
leading out towards this plain, These vallies are
covered with grass. and the buffalo have made nu
merous paths, not only in these vales, but ever all
the hifls where they could rass at all, (and they
can pass almost anywhere } leading from this wide
plain to the river where they resort for water, IL
the dry season. These paths are very narrow, and
are sunk in the ground six or eight inches deep. In
travelngup the Platte, almost every thirty yards we
mad to cross path, which was about all the OBJ
structon we met while travelling up this gently
inclined plain. While hunting, there is no danger
!, being lost, for you can find buffalo path any
where, and they always lead the nearest route to
the river; All the plains are covered with grass;
st variety, but the most rich and luxuriant grass
The greatest general scarcity Of wood we found
70 the Platte, before we reached Fort Larimer
We sometimes found bunches OF dry willows,
.,ten Indian wigwams made OF willow; but the
way IN which we generally procured our fuel, was
pick up the pieces of drift wood during the day,
ind at night we would have plenty. II requres
very little fuel 1t is necessary to dig a narrow
ditch, about eight inches wide, one foot deep, and
two to three feet long. This confines the heat,
md prevents the wind from scattering the fire.
Un the 22d day OF June, we saw the first band OF
,uffaloes, which cona ned sbout fifty of all ages
md sizes. Out OF this band two were killed
They were found IN the plain close to the river
ind were pursued on horseback. Perhaps no sport
fox chase sinks into inslgnicance when compared
TO it. The mode Of hunting this noble animal is
sery simple. They are generally found upon the
vide plain beyond the sand hills, az before
grazing near the head OF some hollow leading up
near them. When you approach him, you must
ct the wind blow from him to you; because if
you scent him.. you will hardly run of, but if he
f The buffalo is very dull, but their sense
smell is ,hy very on acute, h,, one snasy. Gay saw
he opposite side of the river from us, and abou
wo miles of, running parallel with the line 81
wagons, up the river When they came directly
'ppostr 10 us, so as to strike the stream OF wind
urned suddenly of at right angles, and increased
heir speed greatly. They had evidently scented
rs If you have the wind of them, you can ap
proach within very short distance, near enough
10 kill them readily with the rifle. When you
fire, If you remain still, and do not show YOURSELF
he buffalo will perhaps bring bound, and then
stop, and remain until you have fired several times
lf he is wounded he will lie down. II several guns
are fired in quick succession it alarms the band,
ind they all move off in brisk trot but il you
Dad and fire slowly, you may often kill severai
before the balance leave. have seen three OF
tour lying within ten yards Of each ether. When
you have fired as often as you can, and the buffa-
10 have retired beyond the reach OF your balls, you
return down the hollow to your horses, and having
you show yourself TO the animal; and, when he
sees you, your horse ought TO be at the very toy
OF his speed, so as to get near him before ne gels
underfull speed You may dash at band Of buffd-
loes not more THAI. one hundred yards of, ano
they will stand and gaze at you before they start;
but when one puts himself in motion, all The resi-
move instantly, and those lying down will MOI
running Although they seem to run awkward
y, yet they step away rapidly, and If you
lose much time, you will have hard run to over
the top Of his speed at once. This enables you to
press upon the bufaloe at the first of the race, and
when you fpproach within fifty or sixty yards OF
them, you will find that they can let out few NOR.
the moment you press hard upon him, he will iurL
short around, curl his tail over his back, bow hs
neck and face you for fight At this time you had
well Keep at % sed uoy se
and fire several times; but you had better not fire
at his head, for you will not hurt him much 1t you
hit him, for the ball will never penetrate through
the scull bone. Whenever you bring one to bay,
If the country is not too broken, and yonr hors.
is good, there is danger OF his escape, as you
may shoot as often as you please and whenever
YOU give the animal deadly shot. he will kick as
If kicking at some object that attacks HIM. The
buffalo, when excited, is very hard TO kill, and
YOU may put several balls through his heart, ano
he will then 1--we, sometimes, tor hours. The
oest place to shoot them Is behind the shonl |
der, at the bulge OF the ribs, and just below tn
back bone, so to pass through the thick part oi
the lungs. THIS is the most deadly OF all shots;
and when you see the animal cough up blood. Il
is unne cessary to shoot hun any more. When
you shoot them through the lungs, the b,ooo
smo,hers them Immediately, The lungs OF III,
buffalo are very large, and easily hit by any
sort of a marksman. II you pursue buffalo,
not wounded, you, may run up by his side,