BUFFALO. 81 



fasten them. All attempts to get them on board 

 would have proved fruitless, had it not been for some 

 children whom the animals would suffer to approach 

 them, and by whose puerile management their rage 

 was quickly appeased : and when the animals were 

 brought to' the beach, it was by their assistance, in 

 twisting ropes about their legs, that the men were 

 enabled to throw them down, and by that means get 

 them into the boats. And what appears to have been 

 no less singular than this circumstance, was, that they 

 had not been a day on board before they became per- 

 fectly gentle. 



The wild buffalo is found in India, and in many 

 parts of Africa, especially towards the Cape of Good 

 Hope. These are a formidable tribe, and it is im- 

 possible to escape their fury, otherwise than by 

 climbing into some large tree, as they will break 

 down one of a moderate growth. Many travellers 

 have been instantly gored to death, and trampled to 

 pieces under th^ir feet. They run with amazing 

 speed, and cross the largest rivers without difficulty. 

 Professor Thunberg tells us, that when travelling m 

 Cafiraria, he and his companions had just entered a 

 wood, when they discovered a large old male buffalo, 

 lying aione, in a spot that, for the space of a few 

 square yards, was free from bushes. The animal no 

 sooner observed the guide, who went first, than with a 

 horrible roar he rushed upon him. The man, turning 

 his horse short round, behind a large tree., the builaio 

 rushed straight forwards to the next man, and gored 

 his horse so dreadfully in the belly, that he died soon 

 after. The two men climbed up into trees, and the 

 furious animal made his way towards the rest, of 

 whom the professor was one, who were approaching, 

 but at some distance.' A horse, without a rider, was 

 in the front : as soon as the buffalo saw him, he be- 

 came more outrageous than before, and attacked him 

 with such fury, that he not only drove his horns into 

 the horse's breast, but even out again through the 

 very saddle. This horse was thrown to the grou^ 7 

 with such violence, that he died instantly- ' 

 i 5 



