But fifteen years afterwards, enraged at the violence and wrongdoing of the British and Canadian traders, and maddened by strong drink, they were planning a universal massacre of the whites, when suddenly smallpox (introduced by the Spaniards into New Mexico) came on them as a scourge, which destroyed whole tribes, and depopulated much of western North America.
Alexander Henry had many adventures with the bison of the plains.

Here is one of them.
"Just as I came up to him at full speed and prepared to fire, my horse suddenly stopped.

The bull had turned about to face my horse, which was naturally afraid of buffaloes, and startled at such a frightful object; he leaped to one side to avoid the bull.

As I was not prepared for this I was pitched over his head, and fell within a few yards of the bull's nose; but fortunately for me he paid no more attention to my horse than to me.

The grass was long, and I lay quiet until a favourable opportunity offered as he presented his placotte.