THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON, chap. iu. 



CHAPTER III. 



Minneria Lake - Brush with a Bull — An Awkward Vis-a-vis — A 

 Bright Thought— Bull Buffalo Receives his Small Change — What is 

 Man? — Long Shot with the Four-ounce — Charged by a Herd of 

 Buffaloes — the Four-ounce does Service — The ' Lola ' — A Woman 

 Killed by a Crocodile — Crocodile at Bolgodde* Lake— A Monster 

 Crocodile — Death of a Crocodile. 



The foregoing description may serve as an introduc- 

 tion to the hill sports of Ceylon. One animal, how- 

 ever, yet remains to be described, who surpasses all 

 others in dogged ferocity when once aroused. This is 

 the ' buffalo.' 



The haunts of this animal are in the hottest parts 

 of Ceylon. In the neighbourhood of lakes, swamps, 

 and extensive plains, the buffalo exists in large herds; 

 wallowing in the soft mire, and passing two-thirds of 

 his time in the water itself, he may be almost termed 

 amphibious. 



He is about the size of a large ox, of immense 

 bone and strength, very active, and his hide is almost 

 free from hair, giving a disgusting appearance to his 

 India-rubber-like skin. He carries his head in a 

 peculiar manner, the horns thrown back, and his nose 



