626 THE BANTENG, OR JAVAN OX. 
obtains concealment. The ‘spoor’ of the Buffalo is like that of the common ox, the toes 
of the old bulls being very wide apart, whilst those of the young ones are close together ; 
the cow Buffalo’s footprints are longer and thinner than the bull’s, and smaller. 
As these animals wander in the open ground during the night, and retreat to their 
glens during the day, their spoor may be taken up from the outside of the bush, and 
followed until the scent leads to the view. When the hunter comes near to his game, of 
which he should be able to judge by the freshness of the footprints, he should wait and 
listen for some noise by which to discover their position. Buffaloes frequently twist and 
turn about in the bush, and do so more especially just before they rest for the day. 
IT knew a Kaftir who carried about him the marks of a Buffalo's power and cunning. 
He was hunting Buffaloes one day in the bush, and came upon a solitary bull, which he 
wounded ; the bull bounded off, but the Kaffir, thinking him badly hurt, followed after at 
a run, without taking sufficient precautions in his advance. Now, dangerous as is a 
Buffalo when untouched, he is still more to be dreaded when hard hit, and should 
therefore be followed with the utmost caution. 
The Kaffir had hurried on through the bush for a hundred yards or so, and was 
looking for the spoor, when he heard a crash close to him, and before he could move 
himself, he was sent flying in the air by the charge of the Buffalo. He fell into some 
branches and was thus safe, for the Buffalo was not satisfied with this performance, but 
wished to finish the work which he had so ably begun. After examining the safe position 
of his victim, he retreated. 
The Kaffir, who had two or three ribs broken, reached his home with difficulty, and 
gave up Butfalo- shooting from that day. 
It appeared that this cunning animal had retraced its steps after retreating, and had 
then backed into a bush, and waited for the Kaffir to pass. 
A great sportsman at Natal, named Kirkman, told me that he was shooting Buffaloes 
when he was across the Sugela river on one occasion, and having wounded a bull, he was 
giving him his quietus, w hen the creature sent forth a sort of moan. Now the Buffalo 
always dies game, and rarely makes any other noise when hard hit. This moan was 
probably a signal ; and as such it was translated by the herd to which this animal 
belonged, as they suddenly stopped in their retreat, and came to the rescue. Kirkman 
dropped his gun and took to some trees, where he was in safety. Fortunate it was for 
him that timber happened to be near, as the savage herd really meant mischief, and came 
round his tree in numbers. When they found that he was safe from their rage, they 
retreated. 
The vulnerable parts in a Buffalo are behind the shoulder, near the kidneys, or high 
up on the back. His head is so protected by his horny helmet, that a bullet does not 
easily find a vulnerable point in the forehead. I once met a Buffalo face to face in the 
bush, we were about three yards apart; I fired at his forehead, aiming between the eyes. 
T know that my bullet struck true; the Buffalo fell, but soon jumped up again, and 
scampered off. This was certainly a fair trial of lead versus horn, and horn had the 
best of it.” 
ANOTHER species of Buffalo is the ANOA, an inhabitant of the island of Celebes. This 
animal was formerly thought to belong rather more to the antelopes than to the oxen, but 
is now satisfactorily ascertained to be a member of the genus Bubalus. It is a small, but very 
fierce animal, and is with difficulty made prisoner. Some of these creatures, which were 
kept in confinement, killed in one night fourteen stags which were placed in the same 
inclosure. The horns of this animal are quite straight, and are set nearly in a line with 
the forehead. In length they equal the head, are boldly flattened in front, and are covered 
throughout their length with successive wrinklings. The Anoa is generally found among 
the more rocky localities of its native island. 
The BANTENG, or JAVAN OX, possesses something of the homely aspect which belongs 
to the common domestic cattle. It is, however, a very strong, fleet, and active animal, 
inhabiting the wooded valleys of its native land, and living in small herds under the 
watchful guardianship of vigilant sentries. 
