AN EXPLORATION IN THE FAE EAST. 417 



Our experience of the wild buffalo was thus different 

 from that of some, who have reported it to be a timid, 

 inoffensive animal. As is the case with most wild 

 beasts, it all depends, I believe, on whether you press 

 them hard or not ; and probably many might be 

 slaughtered at long: ranores without even elicitinsj a 

 charge. If followed up on foot, I believe the buffalo 

 to be a much more dangerous opponent than the bison, 

 being less timid, and also found in country where there 

 is usually no protection to be derived from trees or 

 rocks. In Bengal they are scarcely ever shot in any 

 way but from elephants ; and then have been known to 

 prostrate an elephant in their charge. The prime sport 

 with buffaloes is on horseback ; but it is rare that 

 ground is found fit to ride them on with any degree of 

 safety, and I never heard of its having been accom- 

 plished excepting on the occasion above related. I am 

 sure, though, that with a horse clever over rough 

 ground, and a light, breech-loading carbine, capital runs 

 at buffaloes might often be secured by watching them 

 into favourable ground. To kill them with the spear 

 would, I conceive, be utterly out of the question. We 

 cut open one bull down the chest with an axe, to see 

 what stopped our balls so strangely in front shots, and 

 found that a bullet fired into the chest has to pass 

 through more than two feet of hide, bone, and gristle**? 

 before reaching the cavity of the lungs. Nor is the 

 brain more accessible, the animal holding its head either 

 elevated till the nose is level with the eyes, or, if 

 charging, down between its fore-legs, and quite pro- 

 tected from a shot. A plain leaden bullet of an ounce 

 weight, with three drachms of powder, will go clean 

 through the skull if hit perpendicularly, which, how- 

 ever, it is nearly impossible to do. The best places to 



