MALAY BUFFALOES. 223 



The picture was nearly finished, and promised well. 

 It was intended as a present to the Emperor of 

 Russia, whom he seemed to admire immensely. 

 (Raden Saleh died since, in 1880). 



After some slight refreshment I took leave, con- 

 tinuing my drive to return by another route. Here 

 I came upon a herd of flesh-coloured buffaloes carrying 

 sacks of produce upon their backs ; they were curious- 

 looking animals, almost hairless, with large horns ; 

 they are very strong and valuable beasts to the husband- 

 man. I afterwards met with them all over the island. 



Of wild animals there are the tiger and the rhino- 

 ceros, causing the sacrifice of many lives. Death 

 amongst the natives by these, and the bites of 

 poisonous snakes, are computed to happen in Java 

 at the rate of one per diem. They abound especially 

 in the southern districts, which are uncultivated, 

 indeed, more than one-half of the island is in that 

 pristine state to this day, including a great many 

 volcanoes, whose number is variably given as thirty- 

 six to forty-six, of which about a dozen are still active. 



Earthquakes are of frequent occurrence, averaging 

 about once a week ; the interior being most, and the 

 north coast least, subject to these visitations. 



At its western extremity, in the Straits of Sunda, 



