CHAPTER V.

_The buffalo hunt._

Five of our hunting party were on horseback, and the rest on foot. We proceeded over a hilly country for two days, meeting with no other game than a single deer, which was shot by one of the party, thrown across one of the horses, and carried onward. We came, at length, to the borders of an extensive prairie, which lay spread out like the sea before us. In taking a general view of its surface, it seemed to be almost perfectly level. But as we advanced, I perceived that it was undulating, like the ocean thrown into long waves by a gale of wind.

It was now late in the autumn, but the prairie was covered with a great variety of flowers, some of them exceedingly brilliant and beautiful. I hardly noticed these objects then. I was with savages, and they never perceive anything lovely in flowers, or landscapes, or nature’s fairest scenes. It might seem that those who live always in the midst of nature’s works would feel their beauty and admire them. But it is not so. The exquisite emotions excited in a refined mind by beautiful landscapes and the picturesque objects of nature, belong only to those who have enjoyed the advantages of civilization. No savage is ever either a painter or a poet. You never see these dwellers in the wilderness culling bouquets, or making wreaths of blossoms.

We held a straight course for several hours, until, at last, we reached a little dell which was covered with trees. At a distance, this appeared like an island in the sea. Here we paused, and preparations were made to remain for some days. Early on the ensuing morning, most of the party were roused and went forth in quest of game; but the only result was the killing of two or three deer. Several days now passed, but on the fifth day after our arrival we met with more stirring adventures.

Soon after the sun arose, one of the Indians announced that a herd of buffaloes was coming. We all looked in the direction to which he pointed, and, at the distance of nearly two miles, we saw an immense number of objects, seeming like small black spots on the surface of the prairie. These gradually approached us, and we could soon hear a confused noise, like the distant roar of a tempest. The Indians were immediately on the alert.

As the wind was blowing toward the herd, they were afraid that the quick scent of the buffaloes would perceive us, and that the affrighted animals would take to flight. To avoid this danger, we immediately determined to shift our position. Those who had horses mounted them and departed, and those who were on foot followed them. Some proceeded to the right and some to the left, making a wide sweep, and intending to come in upon the herd in the opposite direction.

We were not long in performing this manœuvre. I shall never forget the scene that was now presented. Before us and near at hand were several thousands of these huge animals, many of them equal in size to the largest ox. They had also an aspect entirely distinct from our tame cattle. Their swarthy color, their wild, shaggy hair, their thick mane, the profusion of rough and bristling hair about the face, the enormous hump upon the shoulders, together with the fierce countenance of these animals, rendered them objects at once interesting and formidable.

And if this was their appearance, taken singly, the spectacle of thousands of these huge beasts was hardly short of sublime. The whole mass were moving slowly forward. Some paused occasionally, to nip the herbage, or devour the leaves from a favorite shrub, and others sauntered on with a careless and indifferent air. But many of the bulls, and some of the rest, seemed to be almost constantly occupied in fighting.

Some were pawing the earth, and scattering the dust in the air; some were kneeling and plunging their horns into the little hillocks of earth, lowing at the same time, and seeming desirous of giving a challenge to mortal combat; some were already fighting, and, with their horns locked, were straining every nerve for the mastery; others were leaping and frisking as they went; and others still were plunging their horns into the sides of such of their brethren as came within their reach. The lowing of the herd was incessant, and came upon the ear with a deafening roar. The air was filled with confused sounds, and the earth was shaken beneath our feet by the trampling multitude.

Accustomed as I was to scenes of adventure, I was still startled at this spectacle, and, for a time, my mind was somewhat confused. My excitement was increased by an incident which immediately followed. The Indians who had accompanied me had dispersed themselves, and being upon the flank of the herd, and sheltered by the tall grass, were stealing towards their unsuspecting victims.

I had myself crouched down in a thick tuft of grass, upon one of the thousand swells of the prairie. It chanced that a buffalo of the largest size, straying a little from his companions, was coming directly towards the spot where I lay. He soon came near, and I could see his curly pate and the glistening of his eye. He came slowly, but steadily on. I had a rifle in my hand, but such was my amazement that I never thought of using it. I remained crouched upon one knee until the animal was within six feet of me.

It is impossible to describe the consternation depicted in the brute’s countenance when he first saw me. He paused for a moment; his eyeballs stood out, his nostrils expanded, and the long stiff hair upon his neck stood erect. After glaring at me for a few seconds, the creature lifted his tail into the air, and sped away with a prodigious gallop.

He had proceeded but a few rods, however, before I heard the report of a rifle, and the flying buffalo stumbled and fell to the earth, tearing up the soil in the heavy plunge. He, however, rose to his feet, and proceeded, with a staggering gallop, for about a hundred yards. He then paused, and at length stood still. I came forward, supposing that the wound was mortal, and that the creature would soon fall to the earth; but what was my surprise, on coming up with him, to discover three or four wolves standing in front of him, and evidently on the point of making an attack.

Without reflection, I discharged my rifle among them, and killed two of them. The noise directed the attention of the wounded buffalo to me, and he immediately turned upon me. I easily kept out of his way at first; but his speed increased, and I soon found it necessary to exert myself to the utmost for escape. My uncommon speed was now my only hope. The raging beast followed me at long bounds, and I was frequently obliged to throw him off by a short turn to the right or left, in order to escape from the plunge of his horns. I had already begun to grow weary and short of breath, when I heard a loud bellow and a heavy fall to the earth. I looked around, and my pursuer lay dead upon the ground.

After a few moments, my self-possession returned. I loaded my rifle and proceeded toward the scene of action, for my companions were now at their work. I had an opportunity of seeing the manner in which the Indians on horseback attack the buffalo. I chanced to be near one of our bravest huntsmen as he assailed a bull of the largest size. The man was firmly mounted, but he had no other weapons than a bow and a quiver of arrows. The buffalo had perceived the approach of the enemy, and immediately fled at full gallop.

The hunter pursued, and, speedily coming up with the animal, he drew his arrow to the head, and plunged it between its ribs. It entered more than one half its length, but the buffalo continued its flight. Another and another arrow were speedily discharged, and all of them took effect. The last was almost entirely buried in the flank of the huge beast. Stung with agony, he wheeled suddenly round, and made a fierce plunge at the mounted horseman. The movement was sudden and rapid, but the blow was evaded by a swaying movement to the left. The impulse of the horseman carried him past the animal for a considerable distance, and the latter, apparently incapable of farther exertion, stood still.

His sides were covered with blood, and mingled foam and blood were streaming from his open mouth. He held his head down, his tongue protruded, his eyes stood out, and he shivered in every limb. At the same time, he uttered a low and plaintive bellow. The unrelenting hunter speedily turned his horse back, and again approached his prey. He paused a moment, and seemed to hesitate whether it were needful to spend another arrow; but, after a short space, he placed one upon the string. The bison watched the movement, and, at the instant it sped, uttered a terrible roar, and sprung again toward the horseman. The latter, prepared for the movement, leaped aside, and the exhausted prey rolled, with a crushing sound, to the earth. The last arrow had reached his heart.

I looked over the vast plain, and the countless herd of bisons were now in full flight; plunging, galloping, and bellowing, they swept over the plain. It is impossible to give an adequate idea of the scene. A variety of stunning sounds fell upon the ear, and the earth trembled as if shaken by an earthquake. Yet, amid this scene of confusion, the Indians seemed in their element. Mingling with the crowd of animals, their arrows flew, and their bullets sped. Those who were on foot, and those who were mounted, alike kept up with the flying herd.

Nothing could exceed the fierceness of their looks, or the animation of their actions. Their whole souls engaged in the work of death; their hair streaming in the wind, their eyes gleaming with fiery exultation, and speeding from point to point with incredible swiftness; they had an aspect of wildness, energy, and power, which words alone cannot paint. For my own share in the adventure I can say but little. I had several fair shots, but they were all without success, excepting in one instance. A buffalo calf, toward the latter part of the chase, was passing near, and I brought it down with a single ball.

I must not omit to mention one incident, that particularly attracted my attention in the midst of these scenes. From the moment the attack began, I had noticed several wolves gliding hither and thither, and seeming to watch the progress of the fight. These creatures follow the herds of bisons, and, if one of them becomes sick or wounded, they attack and devour him. They seemed now to be quite aware that something was to be done in their behalf, and, accordingly, gathered in considerable numbers to the place where the attack was about to be made.

Several buffaloes had now been slain, and others were wounded. As I was passing along, I saw a buffalo that had received a bullet in his side, and was severely hurt. The creature seemed exhausted and incapable of flight. As if understanding the exact nature of the case, several wolves had gathered around him, and, squatting upon their haunches at a respectful distance, were waiting the moment when the animal should be sufficiently feeble to render it safe for them to make the attack. At my approach, however, the buffalo made a new effort, and galloped beyond my reach, followed, however, by his unrelenting and greedy attendants.

In about half an hour after the attack commenced, it was all over. The herd had passed on; but scattered along, for the space of three or four miles, lay no less than sixteen dead buffaloes, the fruit of our efforts. I must say, however, that the packs of wolves, which constantly hung around the buffaloes, devoured two or three that we had killed before we could secure them.

Several days were spent in skinning our game; in cutting off the best parts of the meat, and in preparations for our return. At last, having loaded our horses with the hides and a portion of the meat, and each man taking what he could carry, we set out upon our journey, and, after a laborious march, reached the settlement.

The new London Exchange.

The bank of England is the focus of the money operations of London. It is situated in that part of the metropolis called the city, about a mile and a half to the east of Temple Bar.

This bank is an immense quadrangular building, with a large court in the centre. The number of rooms in the edifice are numerous, and a person without a guide would inevitably get lost amid its labyrinth of staircases, passages, rooms, entries, and offices. During the business hours of the day, there are constant streams of people passing in and out of this great temple of mammon.

The number of officers and clerks employed in the bank is very great, and, in some of the rooms, you see them shovelling heaps of gold, almost as freely and as abundantly as if it were Indian corn. Near the bank is the post-office, which is also an immense edifice. The number of persons at work within the bustle and activity that are exhibited there, the marking of parcels, the tumbling about of mail-bags, the running hither and thither, seem almost to render the place a city in itself.

Near these two great buildings are the offices of the chief bankers of London, who receive and pay out immense sums of money at their counters every day. All the streets in this region are mainly occupied by persons who are engaged in the great money operations of the metropolis. Nothing can exceed the bustle and activity of this part of the city. The streets are thronged with cabs, coaches, omnibuses, and other vehicles, and with a ceaseless flood of people, passing rapidly on, as if they thought the world was speedily coming to an end.

[Illustration: _Laying the corner stone of the new London Exchange._]

Near to the bank was formerly the old Exchange, which was a four-sided building, in the court of which, merchants, bankers, and others in London, were accustomed to assemble for the purpose of transacting business. This court was quadrangular, and, on the four sides, were the emblems of the four quarters of the globe. On that side where the emblems of Europe were, European business was transacted; on the Asiatic side, business relating to Asia was transacted; and so of the rest.

The time of assembly, in this Exchange, was usually from two to four o’clock. At these hours, you would here see a crowd of persons; and the amount of business transacted within this little square, in the space of a couple of hours, often amounted to several millions of pounds sterling.

For several years past, the opinion had prevailed, in London, that the old Exchange was small, inconvenient, and unworthy of the great commercial metropolis of the world. A scheme was, therefore, set on foot for erecting a new Exchange, which might at once be convenient, and suited, by its extent and magnificence, to satisfy the wants as well as the ambition of the great emporium of Britain.

The building has already been commenced, and considerable progress has been made in its construction. London has hundreds of edifices, any one of which would be an object of interest and curiosity, on account of its extent and magnificence, on our side of the Atlantic. But the new Exchange promises to rank among the very finest of the public buildings of London, both on account of its size and the beauty of its architecture.

The corner-stone of this fine structure was laid on the 17th of January, 1842, and appears to have been one of the most imposing ceremonies, of the kind, that ever took place. An immense crowd of people was assembled, among whom were many persons of the highest distinction. The performances took place beneath a tent, in which there were about fifteen thousand persons.

This tent was one hundred feet high, and three hundred feet in circumference. Around it were eleven tiers of seats, gradually rising to the height of twenty-four feet. These seats, as well as the floor and sides of the tent, were covered with crimson drapery. It was lighted by a magnificent chandelier, containing about fifty gas lights. In the centre of the tent was an open space, in which the foundation-stone, an immense block of free-stone, was suspended. In front of it were two chairs of state, one for Prince Albert and the other for the lord mayor.

All things being ready, Prince Albert deposited, in an excavation in the stone, a glass bottle, containing a variety of coins, both gold, silver, and copper. A glass brick was also deposited, with an English inscription encrusted thereon. These were covered with a stone, and, the prince applied the level to see that it was true. Some mortar was put into the crevices, and his royal highness smoothed it down, in a very workmanlike manner, with a silver trowel, exquisitely fabricated for the purpose. An enthusiastic cheer rung through the assembly, to attest the appreciation of the skill displayed by the prince. The stone was lowered to its bed, and the mighty pageant was over.

The Imperial Joss.

[Illustration: _Imperial Joss._]

This is the chief idol of the Chinese empire, and is worshipped with profound reverence by many persons, especially by the chief dignitaries. The present emperor, whose name is Taou Twang, and who is now about seventy years old, is very particular in his devotions to the Imperial Joss. This image is variously represented, but always exhibits the appearance of a very fat man, with an enormous belly,――one who is fond of good eating and good drinking, and who cares for little else.

A man’s religion is usually an index to his own character. If we may judge the higher classes of Chinese by their deity, we should suppose that, if they are not better than their gods, they are a low, coarse, and sensual people.

The Chinese temples, or Joss houses, are very magnificent; and it is said that there are, in the empire, about five hundred of these of the larger kind. When the emperor goes to worship the imperial deity, he dresses himself with the utmost magnificence, and is attended by all his officers of state, sumptuously apparelled. But while he thus displays the greatest external grandeur, he exhibits great humility and dejection, prostrating himself upon the earth, rolling himself in the dust, and speaking of himself, to the object of his adoration, in terms of the utmost abasement.

In the vicinity of Canton, there is a Joss house, which makes a magnificent appearance. It is four stories high, with a fine cupola. It has, also, numerous galleries and out-houses.

A Salt Water Scene.

In one of the recent fishing excursions in our bay, the steward of the steamer had employed, as assistant cook, a simple negro, who had “never before smelt salt water,” nor knew its peculiar properties. There were a hundred persons on board to feed, and, not having a very large supply of water on board, at the first dinner the steward took his aid severely to task for wasting the fresh water in boiling the vegetables, when the salt water, alongside, was so much better for the purpose. Poor Darky promised to do better next time; and, accordingly, on the following morning, when the bell rang for breakfast, the aforesaid hundred half-famished people rushed up to the table, and, seizing the coffee-cups, each quaffed a copious draught, when, phew! phiz! splutter! what a spitting and coughing there ensued! “Steward! cook! captain! where are you? what is the matter of the coffee?” shouted a Babel of vehement voices. The steward appeared, and protested his ignorance of anything wrong, when a deputation was sent for poor cook, and he soon appeared amid the excited multitude, trembling, and as pale as he could be. “What is the matter with this coffee?” demanded the captain.

“I sure I don’t know, massa,” he replied.

“Where did you get the water that you made it of?”

“Why, massa cap’n, de steward scold me for wasting the fresh water for bile the ’taters, and said de salt was better; so _I got it out ob de riber, too, to make dis coffee_.”

Hungry as was the party, a hearty roar followed the explanation of this real African bull, and all hands were obliged, in good humor, to wait the making of _fresh_ coffee.

* * * * *

THE SHOULDER OF MUTTON.――The blade bone of a shoulder of mutton is called in Scotland “a poor man,” as in some parts of England it is termed “a poor knight of Windsor.” Some years ago, an old Scottish peer chanced to be indisposed whilst he was in London attending parliament. The master of the hotel where he lodged, anxious to show attention to his noble guest, waited on him to enumerate the contents of his well-stocked larder, so as to endeavor to hit on something which might suit his appetite. “I think, landlord,” said his lordship, rising up from his couch, and throwing back the tartan plaid with which he had screened his grim and ferocious visage, “I think I could eat a morsel of _a poor man_.” The landlord fled in terror, having no doubt that his guest was a cannibal, who might be in the habit of eating a slice of a tenant, as light food, when under a regimen.

The Life of Columbus.