The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-04-05

over MUCH Oh tue w eSleIu COuutIss
where the buffalo used 10 range. the
plow has turned over the soil and
buried the memorial which he left
behind him. In the territory that
has been cultivated no signs of the
wild inhabitants remain. Even where
the earth villages of the Indians used
TO stand along the streams, forming
low mounds. as the supports and
earth walls and roofs sank 10 decay,
the plow, passing again and again
over the soil, has so leyeled il that
the mounds are no longer seen. So
in such regions it is with the buffalo
trails and with the buffalo wallows.
But in the arid Northern country
all over the hills, the trails OF the
buffalo NJ still be traced. often
they are visible merely as green lines
showing brightly against the yellow
prairie over which they run. but
sometimes they are deep worn. six or
eight inches, even a foot below the
surface Of the surrounding soil. To-
day many of these trails are used by
the range cattle, which occasionally
are so numerous as to wear away the
grass which has sprung up in the old
path, but more often the number
passing over the trail is so small as
only to keep the grass worn down.
In ancient days in the soft chalky
soil OF Kansas, these trails were
sometimes so deeply worn that the
buffalo as they passed along rubbed
their sides against the walls of the
trail, and over the herd. moving stead
lily onward at slow walk, hung
clouds of fine dust. a chalky powder
as fine as plaster of paris but yellow,
or cream colored.
When undistvrbed the buffalo us
ually travelled in single file, often the
nose OF each great brute close to the
hindquarters OF the one ahead of IT,.
Groups OF buffalo followed estab-
lished paths. and sitting on n high
hill, overlooking some river or little
prairie lake, one often saw the buffalo
in long strings stringing in from all
directions. For the most part the
trails led to water, or perhaps to
some favorite crossing place on a
stream. If they led toward a river,
many Of them would be parallel or
nearly so, or they might converge
toward some point where the descent
OF the bluffs was gradual and easy,
for the buffalo always chose for him
self the easiest ways.
To-day, as one observes these trails
memorials Of ancient days-he
may wonder why they stand out so
brightly green upon a prairie that in
late summer is sere and yellow. The
reason is obvious. Millions Of buffalo
travelling for uncSonted years over
the same paths have fertilized them
by their droppings, so that the soil
there is now far richer than else
where on the prairie, for the buffalo
chip deposited in the trail never grew
dry and hard as It did on the prairie.
but was at once trodden into the soil
and reduced 10 powder, to nourish a
subsequent growth OF grass.
1t Is not surprising that these trails
over the hills are noticed by travel
ers who are whirled along In the rail
road trains OF to-day, nor that they
inquire what they mean, nor that
when their Significance is explained
the thoughtful inquirer should con-
slider with interest and wonder the
changes that have taken place over
the broad land OF the West.
Far less conspicuous than any 9TH
or of the memorials that he has left
Is the buffalo wallow. This was sim
ply a place where in the heats of
summer, or when greatly pestered
by insects. or when worried by last
winters tattered coat which he had
not yet gotten rid OF, the buffalo
threw himself down in some damp or
wet place and rolled until covered
with mud and water. The process
has often been described, and is well
understood. The practice is no. pc
culiar 10 the buffalo, since in the
heats of summer the elk, and bears,
and probably many other animals
hathe themselves in this fashion
Sometimes a buffalo wallowing on a
soil which was white, or nearly so,
emerged from his bath a white buff
falo instead OF black one, and more
than once people have been deceived
by this color. and imagining that
they saw before them an albino buf-
falo, have chased it and killed II,
only 20 find that the color came on
on their fingers in white powder.
Such an experience was had by Colo
mel d. l.. Brainard, Of Arctic explora-
tion fame. In the same way, many
years ago, ! became highly excited.
over what | believed 10 be a black
elk. which a closer inspection showed
10 be merely an elk that had been
wallowing in spring hole in the
timber. Sometimes, too, the buffalo
coming from sucn bath coated with
thick mud. dried of quickly. and tho
clots OF dried mud clinging 20 the
long hair Of head and forelegs, rat
tied curiously against each other as
the animals gallODed away, 20 the