"It was my effort, in depicting the West, to depict it as it was"

In this quote, Buffalo Bill is revealing his objective to properly represent the Western frontier as it truly was, without any glamorized or exaggerated aspects. He acknowledges that his representation is a reflection of his own efforts and perspective, however he aims to capture the truths of life in the West through his representations. This statement highlights the importance of genuine representation in historical and cultural contexts, and recommends that Buffalo Bill thought that his function as an artist was to showcase the experiences of a region in a genuine and truthful method.