THE ITALIAN BUFFALO. 79 



docile : these men ride on their favorites, and spend the 

 night with them in the midst of jungles and forests, with- 

 out fear of wild beasts. When driven along, the herds 

 keep close together, so that the driver, if necessary, walks 

 from the back of one to the other, perfectly at his ease. 

 In the south of Europe they are managed by means of a 

 ring passed through the cartilage of the nose, but in India 

 it is a mere rope. 



Their fierceness and courage are well exemplified in the 

 following anecdote, related by Mr. D. Johnson in his 

 interesting ' Sketches of Indian Field Sports :' " Two 

 Biparies, or carriers of grain and merchandise on the 

 backs of bullocks, were driving a loaded string of these 

 animals from Palamow to Chittrah : when they were come 

 within a few miles of the latter place, a tiger seized on 

 the man in the rear, which was seen by a Guallah (herds- 

 man), as he was watching his Buffaloes grazing. He 

 boldly ran up to the man's assistance, and cut the tiger 

 severely with his sword; upon which he dropped the 

 Biparie, and seized the herdsman. The Buffaloes observing 

 it, attacked the tiger, and rescued the herdsman ; they 

 tossed him about from one to the other, and, to the best 

 of my recollection, killed him. Both the wounded men 

 were brought to me; the Biparie recovered, and the 

 herdsman died?' 



Speaking of the Buffalo at Malabar, Dillon says, " It 

 is an ugly animal, almost destitute of hair, goes slowly, 

 but carries very heavy burdens. Herds may be seen, as 

 of common cows ; and they afford milk, which serves to 

 make butter and cheese. Their flesh is good, though less 

 delicate, than that of the ox : the animal swims perfectly 

 well, and traverses the broadest rivers. Besides the tame 



' 



