T H E P A C I F I C O C E A N. 459 



their opinion, that between the violence of the furf, and 

 the fiercenefs of the buffaloes, it would be extremely im- 

 prudent to attempt bringing any more off in this way. We 

 had purchafed eight, and were now at a lofs in what man- 

 ner to proceed to get them on board. We could kill no 

 more than was juft neceffary for the confumption of one 

 day- as in this climate meat will not keep till the next. 

 After confulting with Luco, it was concluded, that the re- 

 mainder fhould be driven through the wood, and over the 

 hill down to the bay, where Captain Gore and I had landed 

 the day before, which being fheltered from the wind, was 

 more free from furf. This plan was accoidmgly put in 

 execution ; but the untractablenefs and prodigious ftrength. 

 of the buffaloes, rendered it a tedious and difficult opera- 

 tion. The method of conducting them was, by palling 

 ropes through their noftrils, and round their horns ; but 

 having been once enraged at the fight of our men, they be- 

 came fo furious, that they fometimes broke the trees, to 

 which we were often under the neceffity of tying them ; 

 fometimes they tore afundcr the cartilage of the noftril, 

 through which the ropes ran, and got loofc. On thefe oc- 

 cafions, all the exertions of our men, to recover them, would 

 have been ineffectual, without the afliftance of fome young 

 boys, whom thefe animals would permit to approach them, 

 and by whole little managements their rage was foon ap- 

 peafed. And when, at length, they were got down to the 

 beach, it was by their aid, in twilling ropes round their 

 legs, in the manner they were directed, that we were en- 

 abled to throw them down, and by that means to get them 

 into the boats. A circumftance, refpecting thefe animals, 

 which I thought no lefs lingular than this gentlenefs to- 

 ward, and, as it fhould feem, affection for little children, 



g N 2 was, 



