CHAPTER 7 'THE BUFFALO'

In Francis Parkman's classic 1849 travelogue, The Oregon Trail (originally titled The California and Oregon Trail), Chapter 7, titled "The Buffalo," focuses on the party's first significant encounter with the great buffalo herds of the American West. Summary of Chapter 7: "The Buffalo" The Sighting: As the party travels along the Platte River, they finally encounter the massive herds they had been anticipating. Parkman describes the overwhelming scale of the herds, which blacken the horizon and transform the landscape into a "moving sea" of animals. The Hunt: The chapter details an exhilarating and dangerous buffalo hunt. Parkman, alongside his guide Henry Chatillon, engages in the chase on horseback. He vividly describes the physical sensations of the hunt—the thundering hooves, the clouds of dust, and the raw adrenaline of pursuing such massive, unpredictable creatures. A "New" Reality: For Parkman, the hunt is a rite of passage. It represents his transition from a "refined" Easterner to a participant in the rugged, primal reality of the frontier. Resourcefulness vs. Waste: The chapter also touches on the practicalities of the trail; while the hunt provides essential meat for the party, Parkman observes the different attitudes toward the buffalo, from the skillful necessity of the hunters to the more reckless or wasteful habits of some emigrant groups.

COMING NEXT WEEK: HOW TEDDY ROOSEVELT SAVED THE BUFFALO