TUB CAPS BUFFALO. 



bellowed furiously, and at hist charged in a l-l\ direct I \ into :i neighboring covert, 

 everything that itni-eded their progress. 



'I'll-- Am. in.-, in larye herds, arranged afterthe mannerof all bovine animals, the females 

 iiii'l young being always placed in the safest spots, while the males ]xst themselves in all \*mi- 

 ti->ns of .lan_.T. These herds are never seen on elevated ground, pi. -ferrim; tin- low, marshy 

 , ts \\ here water und mud are abundant. In thin mud they love to wallow, and when sud- 

 denly roused from their sti-mire pastime, present a most terrible api>earance. t heir e\ CM glaring 

 fiercely from amid t lie mud-covered dripping IBMBM of hair. Sometimes tin- Buffalo is said 

 to fall a victim t<> its propensity for wallowing in the mud, and to be stuck so thmh in the 

 oozy slime, as it dries under the scorching sunbeams of that burning climate, that it can be 

 killed without danger. They generally chew the cud while they are lying immersed in mud 

 or water. 



' : tain \Villiamsoii, in :..- work mi "< > : ntal !'. i i Sports," sjN-aks thus of iii.- I'.niT.ii... 

 and its mini lovinj,' pn>|N-nsities : - 



This animal not only delights in the water, but will not thrive unless it have a swamp to 

 wallow in. Then rolling themselves, they speedily work deep hollows, wherein the\ lie 

 immersed. No place seems to delight tin- Buffalo more than the deep verdure on the confines 

 of ./"/.valid marshes. especially if surrounded by tall >:rass. so as to afford concealment and 

 shade, while the Inxly is covered by the water. In such situations they seem to enjoy a \-\ 

 f.-.'t ecstasy, liaviiu; in ireneral nothing .; ; ..... the N irface but tlMfa \ -- :m.i nostrils, ih. n aom 

 being kept low down, and consequently hidden from view. 



"Frequently nothing is perceptible but a few black lumps in the water, ap]>earing like 

 small clods, for the Buffaloes being often fust asleep, all isquiet ; and a ]mssenger would hardly 

 expect to see, as often hai>i>ens. twenty or thirty great beasts suddenly rise. I have a thou- 

 sand times been unexpectedly surprised in this manner by tame Buffaloes, und once or twice by 

 wild ones. The latter are very danp-rous, and the former are by no means to IN- considered as 

 innocent. The banks of the Ganges abound with Buffaloes in their wild state, as does all the 

 country where long grass and capacious Jerl* are to be found. Buffaloes swim very well, or, I 

 may say, float. It is very common to see droves crossing the Ganges und other great river-, a: 

 all seasons, but especially when the waters are low. At u distance one would take them to be 

 large pieces of rock or dark-colored wood, nothing appearing but their faces It is no unusual 

 thing for a boat to get into the thick of them, especially among reedy waters, or at the edges 

 of jungles, before it is perceived. In this no dangerexists ; the Buffaloes are perfectly passive, 

 and easily avoid being run down, so the vessel runs no danger." 



THE CAPE BUFFALO is quite as formidable an animal as its Indian relation, and much 

 more terrible in outward aspect. The heavy bases of the horns, that nearly unite over the 

 forehead, and under which the little fierce eyes twinkle with sullen rays, give to the creature'* 

 countenance an appearance of morose, lowering ill-temper, which is in perfect accordance with 

 its real character. 



Owing to the enormous heavy mass which is situated on the forehead, the Cape Buffalo 

 does not see very well in a straight line, so that a man may sometimes cross the track of a Buffalo 

 within a hundred yards, and not be seen by the animal, provided that he walks quietly, and 

 does not attract attention by the sound of his footsteps. This animal is ever a dangerous 

 neighbor, but when it leads a solitary life amonn the thickets and marshy places, it is a worse 

 antagonist to a casual passenp-r tlian even the lion himself. In such a case, it has an unpleas- 

 ant habit of remainini: quietly in its lair until the unsuspecting traveller passes closely to it- 

 pla.-eof concealment, and then leaping suddenly ujHn him like -n\,- terriMe monster of tin- 

 waters, dripping with mud. and filled with rajje. When it has succeeded in its attack, it first 

 tosses the unhappy victim i". the air, then kneels u|>on his Ixnly, in order to crush tin- life out 

 of him. then butts at the corpse until it lias trh-'n vent to its inline fury, ami ends by 

 li. kin- the mangled limbs until it strips off the flesh with its rough tongue. 



Many such tr.igical incidents have occurred, chiefly, it must U- acknowledged, owing to the 

 imprudence of the sufferer : and there are few coverts in South Africa which ore not celebrated. 



