xiv THE BUFFALO 271 



they were never disturbed ; the plain was their territory. I will 

 not repeat what has already been published in the Rifle and 

 Hound in Ceylon, but that first interview with the buffaloes, 

 when we (my late brother and I) "advanced to attack the herd 

 before us," very nearly wound up my early experience of shikar. 



The " two light double-barrels " were quite inadequate to the 

 power required, but from that date I invariably used my heavy 

 rifles, which arrived on the following morning, and the 3-oz., 

 with 12 and sometimes 16 drams of powder, proved irresistible. 



The Indian buffalo, although savage, is not so dangerous as that 

 of Ceylon. The horns are immensely superior to the Ceylon species, 

 but they are not so handy ; and, as the hunter is generally mounted 

 upon an elephant, he is tolerably secure, while in Ceylon he would 

 be forced to advance to the attack on foot. 



There is extreme danger in this sport unless the hunter is a 

 cool and accurate shot, armed with a rifle of heavy calibre. The 

 hide of a buffalo is intensely tough, and of great thickness ; it is 

 almost free from hair, and resembles the bare appearance of india- 

 rubber. The frontal bone is thick, and although easily penetrated 

 by an ordinary bullet with a large charge of powder, it is difficult 

 to hit, as the animal, when facing an antagonist, carries its nose 

 thrown upwards. The nose, therefore, should be the point of aim, 

 as a bullet well directed will by this route reach the brain. It 

 may be readily understood that when a vicious animal is your vis- 

 a-vis the duel has commenced, and your shot must be delivered as 

 a "settler." If you miss, or if the shot be uncertain in its effect, 

 the buffalo will in most instances charge. 



The charge of a buffalo is a very serious matter ; many animals 

 charge when infuriated, but they can generally be turned by the 

 stunning effect of a rifle shot, even though they may not be mortally 

 wounded; but a buffalo is a devil incarnate when it has once 

 decided upon the offensive. Nothing will then turn it ; it must be 

 actually stopped by death, sudden and instantaneous, as nothing 

 else will stop it. 



If not killed, it will assuredly destroy its adversary. There is 

 no creature in existence that is so determined to stamp out the life 

 of its opponents, and the intensity of fury is unsurpassed when a 

 wounded bull buffalo rushes forward upon the last desperate charge. 

 Should it succeed in overthrowing its antagonist, it will not only 

 gore the body with its horns, but it will endeavour to tear it to 

 pieces, and will kneel upon the lifeless form, and stamp it with its 

 hoofs until the mutilated remains are disfigured beyond all 

 recognition. 



