Character of the Wild Buffalo. 115 



instances where they have died like curs, and have 

 afforded no more sport than tame cows ; but I merely 

 enumerate those scenes worth relating that I have 

 witnessed. This will show that the character of a wild 

 buffalo can never be depended upon ; and if the pursuit 

 is followed up as a sport by itself, the nature of the 

 animal cannot be judged by the individual behavior of 

 any particular beast. Some will fight and some will 

 fly, and no one can tell which will take place : it is at 

 the option of the beast. Caution and good shooting, 

 combined with heavy rifles, are necessary. Without 

 heavy metal, the sport would be superlatively dangerous 

 if regularly followed up. Many persons kill a wild 

 buffalo every now and then ; but I have never met with 

 a single sportsman in Ceylon who has devoted himself 

 to the pursuit as a separate sport. Unless this is done, 

 the real character of buffaloes in general must remain 

 unknown. It may, however, be considered as a rule 

 with few exceptions that the buffaloes seldom com- 

 mence the attack unless pursued. Their instinct at 

 once tells them whether the man advancing toward 

 them over the plain comes as an enemy. They may 

 then attack ; but if unmolested they will generally 

 retreat, and, ' like all men of true courage, they will 

 never seek a quarrel, and never give in when it is forced 

 upon them. Many descriptions of my encounters with 

 these animals may appear to militate against this theory, 

 but they are the exceptions that I have met with : the 

 fierce look of defiance and the quick tossing of the 

 head may appear to portend a charge ; but the animals 

 are generally satisfied with this demonstration, and 

 retreat. 



Attack the single bulls and follow them up, and they 



