25. Creatures of the Wilderness
BY COLONEL WILLIAM BYRD (1728)[108]
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
trees sentinels, which constantly stand upon one leg to keep
themselves waking.
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
no rest all night. Before we marched this morning, every
man took care to pack up some buffalo steaks in his
knapsack, besides what he crammed into himself.
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
their noses aloft in the air. Nature has taught them this
attitude to save their antlers from being caught in the
thickets.
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.
[[108]]
Colonel Byrd was a great traveller in the
backwoods of Virginia, and got beyond all the settlements into the wild
woods, which are here described.
[[109]]
A brace and a half is three.
[[110]]
Of course, there could be neither robbers nor
beggars where there were no people.
[[111]]
I.e. Several streams.
[[112]]
I.e. they are strong and durable.
[[113]]
There was no ground for this belief.