WE came to the banks of a creek called in the Indian language, "Ohimpa-moni," signifying Jumping Creek, from the frequent jumping of fish during the spring season.
Here we encamped, and by the time the horses were hobbled, our hunters brought us no less than a brace and a half of deer, which made great plenty and consequently great content in our quarters.109 Some of our people had shot a great wild cat which was at the fatal moment making a comfortable meal upon a fox-squirrel.
The wild cat is as big again as any household cat, and much the fiercest inhabitant of the woods. Whenever it is disabled it will tear its own flesh for madness. Although a panther will run away from a man, a wild cat will only make a surly retreat before him. Now and then he will face about if he be not too closely pursued. He will even pursue in his turn, if he observe the least sign of fear or even of caution in those that pretend to follow him. The flesh of this beast, as well as of the panther, is as white as veal, and altogether as sweet and delicious.
One day a great flock of cranes flew over our quarters. They were exceedingly noisy in their flight. They seemed to steer their course toward the south (they are birds of passage) in quest of warmer weather. They only took this country on their way. They are as rarely met with in this part of the world as a highwayman or a beggar.110 These birds travel generally in flocks. When they roost they place upon the highest
We forded several runs of excellent water.111 After wards we crossed a large level of high land full of lofty walnut, poplar, and white oak trees. As we marched along we saw many buffalo tracks, but could not have the pleasure of seeing the animals. They either smelt us out, having that sense of smell very lively, or else they were alarmed at the noise which so many people must necessarily make in marching along. At the sight of a man they will snort and grunt, cock up their ridiculous short tails, and tear up the ground with a fury of fear. These wild cattle hardly ever range alone, but herd together like tame cattle.
We had been so refreshed by a day of rest that we broke camp one morning earlier than usual and passed the several fords of the Hico River. The woods were very thick a great part of this day's journey, so that we were forced to scuffle hard to advance seven miles.
We took up our quarters again on Sugar-tree Creek. A little distance from this creek one of the men had the luck to meet with a young buffalo of two years old. Notwithstanding he was no older he was as big as an ordinary ox. His legs were very thick and very short and his hoofs exceeding broad. His back rose into a kind of bunch a little above the shoulders. This I believe contributes not a little to that creature's enormous strength.
The portly figure of this animal is disgraced by a shabby little tail, not above twelve inches long. This he cocks up on end, whenever he is in a passion; and instead of lowing or bellowing, grunts with no better grace than a hog.
The hair growing on his head and neck is long and shaggy, and so soft that it will spin into thread not unlike mohair. Some people have stockings knit of it, that would have served an Israelite during his forty years' march through the wilderness.
Its horns are short and strong,112 and the Indians make large spoons out of them, which they say will split and fall to pieces whenever poison is put into them.113 The color of the buffalo is a dirty brown, and its hide is so thick that it is scarcely penetratable. Buffaloes may be easily tamed when they are taken young.
As thick as this poor beast's hide was, a bullet made shift to enter it and fetch him down. He was found all alone, though buffalo seldom are. The men were so delighted with this new diet, that the grid-iron and the frying pan had
Another day we encamped on a pleasant hill, over looking a river which seemed to be deep everywhere except where we forded. The Indian killed a very fat doe, and came across a bear which had been put to death and half devoured by a panther.
The last named of these brutes reigns absolute monarch of the woods. In the keenness of his hunger he will venture to attack a bear; though then it is always by surprise, as beasts of the cat kind come upon their prey.
Their play is to take the poor bears napping. The bears are very drowsy animals. And though they are exceedingly strong, yet their strength is heavy; while the panthers are too nimble and cunning to trust themselves within their hug.
As formidable as the panther is to his fellow brutes, he never has the confidence to venture upon a man. He retires from him with great respect if there be a way open for his escape. However it must be confessed his voice is a little contemptible for a monarch of the forest. It is not a great deal louder or more awful than the mewing of a household cat.
Not far from our quarters one of the men picked up a pair of elk's horns, not very large, and discovered the track of the elk that had shed them. The elk is as big as a horse and of the deer kind. Only the stags have horns and those exceedingly large and spreading.
Their swiftest speed is a fast trot. In that motion they turn their horns back upon their necks, and cock
The Indians say if one of the drove happen by some wound to be disabled from making his escape, the rest will forsake their fears to defend their friend. This they will do with great obstinacy till they are killed on the spot, although otherwise they are so alarmed at the sight of a man, that to avoid him they will sometimes throw themselves down very high precipices into the river.