238 



ANIMALS OF 



to defend itself in a state of nature against the 

 most powerful enemy of the forest ; and only 

 subordinate to man, whose force it has ex- 

 perienced, and whose aid it at last seems to re- 

 quire. However wild the calves are, which 

 are taken from the dam in a savage state, either 

 in Africa or Asia, they soon become humble, 

 patient, and familiar ; and man may be con- 

 sidered in those countries, as almost helpless 

 without their assistance. Other animals pre- 

 serve their nature or their form with inflexible 

 perseverance ; but these, in every respect, suit 

 themselves to the appetites and conveniences 

 of mankind ; and as their shapes are found to 

 alter, so also does their nature ; in no animal 

 is there seen a greater variety of kinds, and in 

 none a more humble and pliant disposition. 



THE BUFFALO. 



IF we should compare the shape of our com- 

 mon cow with that of the bison, the difference 

 will appear very great. The shaggy mane of 

 the latter, the beard, the curled forehead, the 

 inverted horns, the broad breast, and the nar- 

 row hinder parts, give it the appearance rather 

 of a lion than a cow ; and fit it more for a state 

 of war with mankind, than a state of servitude. 

 Yet, notwithstanding these appearances, both 

 animals are found to be the same ; or at least 

 so nearly allied, that they breed among each 

 other, and propagate a race that continues the 

 kind. 



On the other hand, if we compare the buf- 

 falo with our common cow, no two animals 

 can be more nearly alike, either in their form 

 or their nature ; both equally submissive to the 

 yoke, both often living under the same roof, 

 and employed in the same domestic services ; 

 the make and the turn of their bodies so much 

 alike, that it requires a close attention to dis- 

 tinguish them : and yet, after all this, no two 

 animals can be more distinct, or seem to have 

 stronger antipathies to each other." Were 

 there but one of each kind remaining, it is pro- 

 bable the race of both would shortly be extinct. 

 However, such is the fixed aversion formed 

 between these creatures, that the cow refuses 

 to breed with the buffalo, which it nearly re- 

 sembles ; while it is known to propagate with 



Buffon. 



the bison, to which it has, in point of form, but 

 a very distant similitude. 



The buffalo is, upon the whole, by no means 

 so beautiful a creature as the cow ; his figure is 

 more clumsy and awkward; his air is wilder; 

 and he carries his head lower, and nearer the 

 ground ; his limbs are less fleshy, and his tail 

 more naked of hair ; his body is shorter and 

 thicker than that of the cow kind ; his legs are 

 higher ; his head smaller ; his horns not so 

 round, black, and compressed, with a bunch 

 of curled hair hanging down between them ; 

 his skin is also harder and thicker, more black 

 and less furnished with hair ; his flesh, w hich 

 is hard and blackish, is not only disagreeable 

 to the taste, but likewise to tin smell. The 

 milk of the female is by no means so good as 

 that of the cow ; it is however produced in 

 great abundance. In the warm countries, al- 

 most all their cheese is made of the milk of the 

 buffalo; and they supply butter also in large 

 quantities. The veal of the young buffalo 'is 

 not better eating than the beef of the okL 

 The hide of this animal seems to be the- most 

 valuable thing he furnishes. The leather 

 made of it is well known for its thickness, soft- 

 ness, and impenetrability. As these animals 

 are, in general, larger and stronger than the 

 cow, they are usefully employed in agriculture. 

 They are used in drawing burdens, and some- 

 times in carrying them ; being guided by a 

 ring, which is thrust through their nose. Two 

 buffaloes yoked in a waggon, are said to draw 

 more than four strong horses ; as their heads 

 and necks are naturally bent downward, they 

 are thus better fitted for the draught, and the 

 whole weight of their bodies is applied to the 

 carriage that is to be drawn forward. 



From the size and bulk of the buffalo, we 

 may be easily led to conclude that he is a native 

 of the warmer climates. The largest quadru- 

 peds are generally found in the torrid zone ; 

 and the buffalo is inferior, in point of size, only 

 to the elephant, the rhinoceros, or the hippo- 

 potamus. The camelopard or the camel may 

 indeed be taller, but they are neither so long, 

 nor near so corpulent. Accordingly, we find 

 this animal wild in many parts of India ; and 

 tamed also, wherever the natives have occasion 

 for his services. The wild buffaloes are very 

 dangerous animals, and are often found to gore 

 travellers to death, and then trample them 

 with their feet, until they have entirely mangled 



