Chciptcr II 



THE BUFFALO A BFAST 

 OF BURDEN 



11" IS as a beast ot luirdcn that the huffah) is in\alu- 

 ahle. Its prodii^ious strensj:;th enables it to do an 

 enormous amount ot work; bein<^ alile to live on 

 tood which other animals refuse makes it less expensive 

 to keep, and its ability to live and do heavy, hard work 

 in the hot humid atmosphere ot" the tropics makes it 

 particularly suitable tor the conditions which prevail in 

 the Far East. 



It is otten harnessed to a cart, but its fondness for 

 water, as already stated, makes this attendant with some 

 risk. In IJurma it is especially valued tor dragging heavy 

 logs up the steep river banks to the saw pits where the 

 logs are sawed by hand. The logs are scarfed off on one 

 end so that they can be dragged along the ground, a 

 hole made near the end and a chain fastened to the log 

 and yoke. A pair ot buftaloes in this way will easily 

 drag an immense log which two yijke of oxen could 

 not start. 



IT EXCELS IN THE RICE FIELDS 



It is in the rice tields, however, that the butfalo excels. 

 Rice is not sown broadcast; it is tirst planted in nurseries. 



