272 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



I have killed some hundreds of these animals, and I never regret 

 their destruction, as they are naturally vicious and most dangerous 

 brutes, whose ferocity is totally uncalled for. The Ros Gaffer and 

 the ordinary buffalo of Ceylou are about equal in pugnacity, and 

 the duels between the bulls are a magnificent display of taurine 

 strength and determination. 



In such trials of strength the vanquished party generally retreats 

 at full speed, followed for a certain distance by its adversary, who 

 endeavours to drive its horns into the posterior. This is a difficulty, 

 as the great curvature of the horns renders a direct thrust impossible. 

 The victorious bull, left upon the field of battle, has kindled the 

 fire of fight, and longs to seek some new antagonist more worthy 

 of its strength. It does not much signify at that moment of ex- 

 citement whether it be man or beast, but if the former, it is to be 

 hoped that he is well prepared. 



I have frequently witnessed such battles between old bulls, and 

 then walked up to interview the victor, with a 3-oz. rifle, upon the 

 open plain. Nothing can be grander than the sight of a thoroughly 

 excited bull who is determined to assume the offensive, provided 

 that you have a double-barrelled No. 8 with 12 drams of powder, 

 or the 3-oz. with 14 or 16 drams. 



The terrific power of the old 3-oz. belted spherical bullet was 

 frequently exhibited upon Minneria plain ; and it was a grand ex- 

 perimental shooting-ground in those days, when buffaloes were 

 within shot at all hours from sunrise to sunset. The 3-oz. was an 

 absolute exterminator, and no buffalo had a chance, provided the 

 rifle was held steadily and straight. This weapon was a single- 

 barrel, and in those distant days it was of course a muzzle-loader, 

 therefore I could not afford to miss, in the event of danger; I 

 accordingly got into the habit of shooting straight, having a thorough 

 confidence in the crushing power of the rifle. 



Upon one occasion a single bull, which had evidently been 

 fighting, as it showed the white scores of an adversary's horns upon 

 its black hide, was venting its rage by pawing the green turf, and 

 ploughing the soft ground with its angry head, when I dismounted 

 from my pony, and advanced upon the open plain. Seeing me, it 

 made hostile demonstrations, and marched slowly and determinedly 

 forward, as though determined to settle the dispute at the closest 

 quarters. AVhen within 100 paces it stopped, and, after tearing 

 up the ground most viciously for a few minutes, it started at full 

 speed in as direct a charge as it could take ; I met it in the chest 

 with a bullet from the 3-oz. rifle, and the bull was killed so 

 suddenly, that the momentum of its attack turned the body a 



