406 BUFFALO. 



Persia into their country, where the species is at 

 present universally spread, and is very much pro- 

 pagated. It is even more numerous than that of 

 the Ox, and is there equally domestic, though but 

 recently domesticated, as is easily .distinguishable 

 by the constantly uniform colour of the hair, and 

 still more by a remnant of ferocity, and intrac- 

 tability of disposition, and a wild and. lowering 

 aspect, the characters of all half-tamed animals. 

 The Buffaloes of Egypt, however, are not near so 

 wild, nor so much to be feared as those of other 

 countries. They there partake of the very re- 

 markable gentleness of other domestic animals, 

 and only retain a few sudden and occasional ca- 

 prices. The sight of any thing red, which is said 

 to make them fly into fits of ungovernable fury 

 elsewhere, makes no impression on those of Egypt. 

 The inhabitants of the country, besides their red 

 turban, wear also, in general, another shawl of 

 the same colour, which envelops the neck and 

 chest, and I never observed that the sight of ei- 

 ther at all affected the Buffaloes. " " They are so 

 fond of the water," adds this author, " that I have 

 seen them continue in it a whole day. It often 

 happens that the water which is fetched from the 

 Nile, near its banks, has contracted their musky 

 smell." 



The Buffalo, like other animals of this genus, 

 admits of varieties as to size and figure. Of these 

 the most remarkable is the small naked Indian 

 Buffalo of Mr. Pennant, which is of the size of a 

 runt, with nearly naked body, thinly beset with 



