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104 inflicting any permanent injury [wound] This was a fine specimen of a full grown ram, broad & massive as a buffalo, he would probably weigh about 350 lbs, just before he went down back of the cliff he halted where his form was clearly outlined on the sky with noble horns It is wonderful how wild we all are, only a few generations separate us from our [wild] fathers wild as wolves [who subsisted on animals killed in the chase] & if the bandages of civilization were severed we would become wild as any [savage]. This is the secret of our love for the hunt. Savageness is natural. Civilization, at least at this stage is strained & unnatural. It required centuries to tame men as we find them but if turned
105 loose we would be [savagized] in as many yrs. I felt like chasing the flying flock like a wolf though I never have killed any [mtn] [mountain] life, in the excitement the savage exhilaration of the pursuit of the wounded. But all this past away & we were Christians again I ran eagerly up to see her feet to know how we went up to the Ewe wh [which] was all that was left of them left of the fifty. She was breathing still but helpless & I pitied her [unarmed] as I was a moment before I could have worried her like a wolf but helpless & [with] so [gentle] [ ] [ ] poor woman sheep [when] eye she [inspired] [pity] [as] [ ] [ ] bounding along with neck curved high she was shot through the head & never knew what hurt her. [Brimmer] [coolly] let
Date Original
1874
Source
Original journal dimensions: 9 x 14.5 cm.
Resource Identifier
MuirReel24Journal06P104-105.tif
Publisher
Holt-Atherton Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library
Rights Management
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Keywords
John Muir, journals, drawings, writings, travel, journaling, naturalist
