124 THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON, chap. vi. 



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 pur- 

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

 the animal cannot be judged by the individual be- 

 haviour 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 commence the attack unless pursued. 

 Their instinct at once tells them whether the man ad- 

 vancing towards 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 en- 

 counters 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 



