xiv THE BUFFALO 273 



complete somersault, and it lay motionless upon the ground, within 

 about 30 yards of my position. The bullet had entered the chest, 

 and, after passing through the heart and viscera, I found it beneath 

 the skin of the hind-quarters, having completely raked the animal 

 from stem to stern. 



Upon two occasions, on the plain of Minneria, I killed two 

 buffaloes with one bullet from the deadly 3-oz. rifle. There was a 

 great commotion among a large herd of these animals, and upon my 

 approach I discovered that a fight was going on between two very 

 large bulls. When I drew near, the herd departed in full gallop, 

 and left me alone with the two bulls, which were far too much 

 engaged in their contest to notice my presence. I accordingly 

 continued my approach until, when within about 50 yards, they 

 condescended to observe me, and they at once resolved upon retreat ; 

 but their strongly curved horns were hooked together in their 

 combat, and when attempting a departure, they pulled in vain to 

 disengage themselves, ranging side by side in their efforts to effect 

 a separation. Seeing the opportunity, I fired exactly through the 

 shoulder of the nearest bull, and it dropped dead upon the spot, 

 thus unlocking the horns and releasing its antagonist. This ran 

 for a short distance, and then halting, it faced about, reeled to and 

 fro for about a minute, with bloody foam issuing from its mouth, 

 and rolled suddenly upon its side, dead. 



The 3-oz. bullet, with 16 drams of powder, had smashed botli 

 shoulders of the first bull, and passed clean through the body ; it 

 had then entered behind the shoulder of the second bull, passed 

 through the lungs, and was found just beneath the tough skin upon 

 the opposite side, not much the worse for this extraordinary pene- 

 tration. 



On another occasion, as a herd was crossing me at full speed, I 

 fired at the shoulder of a large bull, and dropped it on the spot ; 

 the herd continued at a gallop, but presently a cow lagged behind, 

 and stopped ; she reeled to the right and left, and fell dead, the 

 bullet having passed completely through her, after having perforated 

 the bull. 



This large rifle was a wonderful performer, and it would be 

 endless to record the various examples of its power, but it may be 

 instructive to give an account of an incident which will show by 

 comparison the danger of small rifles in the pursuit of such hard- 

 skinned beasts as buffaloes. 



Mr. Frederick Dick, who was subsequently murdered at Negombo 

 by a shot from a malefactor whom he, as Police Magistrate, 

 attempted to capture, was shooting with me upon one occasion at 



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