THE SAWUNTWARI INSURRECTION. 35 



bare-skinned, ungainly creatures com- 

 mon in the plains of India. Shaggy- 

 haired, massive, and short jointed, with 

 short, thick, symmetrically carved horns, 

 the Soopah buffaloes possessed immense 

 strength, and could drag very heavy 

 loads. 



A bull of this breed is a match for a 

 tiger. On one occasion a herd of buf- 

 faloes with their calves was menaced by 

 a tiger while grazing on the skirts of 

 the forest. The tiger tried by roaring 

 to stampede the herd, and the herds- 

 man, shouting and beating the ground 

 with his heavy quarter-staff, was en- 

 deavouring to drive him off. Presently 

 the tiger sprang at the man and 

 knocked him down, but as the brute 

 stood over him growling, the bull of the 



