Return to Vienna. 117 



Say, from vermin, which would otherwise breed, as they some- 

 times do not change their linen tillit falls into rags. 



It is, no doubt, owing to the extreme humidity of many parts 

 in the plains of Hungary, that the inhabitants rear such a number 

 of buffaloes ; we meet with them, sometimes, in considerable 

 herds. This animal seems intended for marshy tracts, and proves 

 of great use to the peasants, in labours that require draught. 

 Two buffaloes will draw a heavy load better than four stout horses, 

 and they are easily kept and fed on very indifferent provender. 

 Thus, they thrive wonderfully in moist places, where the ox and 

 horse could not long be preserved in safety. The buffalo is smaller 

 than the ox, and much lower, his hair is of an uncommonly black 

 colour. His horns, striated transversely, curved in a semicircle, 

 and flattened, are thrown behind, so that the animal has little 

 use of them, either for attack or defence. There is something 

 hard, rough, and coarse, in his aspect and manner; no care is 

 taken to keep him clean, as the creature takes a pleasure in miry 

 and marshy waters. He is easily tamed, and does not appear of a 

 mischievous character, but is soon irritated, and throws himself 

 from one side to the other, if in harness, or escapes into the 

 marshes, if at liberty. The milk of the female is full of cream, 

 much better tasted than cow's milk, but is yielded in less abun- 

 dance. The butter is very good and white, but like grease, and 

 not pleasant to the eye. It is usual, in many places, at milking, 

 to keep the young buffalo before the mother; but I have often 

 seen them stand very quiet, without such precaution, and believe 

 they might be trained to it, like cows. It is curious to mark 

 them, when again entering the farms and places where they have 

 been used to eating and drinking, every movement indicates an 

 extravagance of joy, which they express, also, by a low grunting, 

 not unlike that of hogs. The buffalo is useful for labour, but 

 his flesh is not well tasted, unless very young, and then there is 

 something disagreeable. The skin is valuable for different uses, 

 and particularly in the works for extracting salt, throughout 

 Hungary and Transylvania. The horns are massive, and in great 

 request for many purposes, having the preference to those of oxen, 

 for durability and beauty. 



In passing over these plains, the eye of the geological traveller 

 is wearied with the barren and uninteresting prospect. In a 

 space of 100 leagues, he has not seen a pebble larger than a pea, 

 and the soil, a perfect level, shews him nothing but siliceous 

 sands, more or less micaceous, mixed with argilous and vegetable 

 matter. Nor can he have recourse to a ravine, to explore the 

 nature and succession of those modern alluvions which have 

 equalized the soil, as all the rivers have very low banks, and are 

 almost every where surrounded with impracticable marshes. 



