"  These  cattle  have  very  fine  wool  instead  of  hair,  and  the  fe-
males have  it  longer  than  the  males.  Their  horns  are  almost
black,  much  thicker  than  those  of  the  cattle  in  Eiu'ope,  but  not
quite  so  long.  The  head  is  of  monstrous  size;  the  neck  is  very
short,  but  very  thick,  sometimes  six  hands  broad.  They  have  a
hump,  or  slight  elevation,  between  the  two  shoulders.  Their  legs
are  very  thick  and  short,  covered  with  a  long  wool.  On  the  head
and  between  the  horns,  they  have  long  black  hair,  which  falls
over  their  eyes  and  gives  them  a  fearful  look.  The  meat  of  these
animals  is  very  succulent.  They  are  very  fat  in  autumn,  because
all  the  summer  they  are  up  to  their  necks  in  the  gi-ass.  These
vast  countries  are  so  full  of  prairies  that  it  seems  this  is  the  ele-
ment and  the  country  of  the  buffalo."*

In  addition  to  what  has  been  drawn  fi-om  Henue}nu"s  travels
in  Northern  Indiana,  and  his  route  along  the  Kankakee,  some
facts  pertaining  to  a  better  understanding  of  the  earlier  descrip-
tions of  the  country  than  are  usually  found  in  the  histories  of  the
present  day.  we  introduce  in  this  place,  further  accounts  given
by  Charlevoix,  in  his  journal  of  travels  in  North  America,  wi'itten
in  1720  and  1721.  In  his  letter  of  September  17,  1720,  he  says:
"  I  think  I  informed  j'ou  in  my  last  that  I  had  the  choice  of  two
ways  to  go  to  the  Illinois.  The  first  was  to  return  to  Lake  Michi-
gan, to  coast  all  the  south  shore,  and  to  enter  into  the  little  river,
Chicagou.  After  going  up  it  five  or  six  leagues,  they  pass  into  that
to  the  Illinois,  by  the  means  of  two  portages,  the  longest  of  which
is  but  a  league  and  a  quarter.  But,  as  this  river  is  but  a  brook
in  this  place,  I  was  informed  that  at  that  time  of  the  year  I  should
not  find  water  enough  for  my  canoe;  therefore.  I  took  the  other
route,  which  has  also  its  inconveniences,  and  is  not  so  pleasant,
but  it  is  the  sui-est.
