HUNTING & SHOOTING IN CEYLON 



on the threshing-floor, to draw carts in some parts of 

 the country, and also to act as pack bulls carrying loads 

 of various sorts. The haunt of the wild buffalo is usually 

 forest or scrub within reach of water, swamp, or mud 

 holes. They may be found in or near almost any remote 

 abandoned tank in the low country, and feed on the grass 

 in remote tanks or parks in the early morning and late 

 evening, as well as during the night. In quiet, undisturbed 

 parts of the country they will remain in their feeding 

 grounds all day, or until heat and flies drive them to water, 

 in which they will lie for hours, immersed to the head, 

 with great contentment. They are not now so numerous 

 as in Sir Samuel Baker's day, but still may be found in 

 considerable numbers in parts of the Northern Province, 

 North Central Province, Eastern Province, and Southern 

 Province. They, or individuals, often mix with the herds 

 of half-tame village buffaloes and inter-breed with them. 

 A wild bull now and then takes possession of a tame herd 

 and lords it over them, as well as resenting the approach of 

 the native owners. 



The wild buffaloes are very wary animals, keen of sight 

 and scent, and often very difficult to stalk. A wounded 

 buffalo can be a very nasty customer, and a cow with calf is 

 at times very dangerous, but they are certainly not now, at 

 any rate, so savage as in Sir Samuel Baker's day unless 

 wounded or cornered. Coming across a herd of buffaloes 

 in a low-country tank or park, if it consists of wild and 

 so-called tame animals, the wild ones will at once make 

 for the jungle, whilst the tame ones will form up in a half- 

 circle, heads erect, giving vent to an occasional snort or 

 stamp, and look decidedly nasty, but this is mainly, I think, 

 their way of expressing their apprehension and alarm at the 

 unusual sight of a white man in their remote wilds. The 



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