THE BUFFALO FAMILY. 27 



forests. A party of officers in the British cavalry, station- 

 ed to the north of Bengal, went on a three months' hunt- 

 ing expedition to the eastward, and destroyed in that 

 time forty-two tigers, but only one arnee, though numerous 

 wild Buffaloes became their prey. When the head of this 

 specimen rested perpendicularly on the ground, it required 

 the outstretched arm of a man to touch the points of the 

 horns. 



The other, or common arnee, is also a very large and 

 formidable animal. The species live gregariously in 

 woody swarnps and plains, and occasionally float in con- 

 siderable numbers down the Ganges, seemingly asleep, 

 until the current lands them on some island, or beside the 

 bank. They are said to plunge beneath the water, and 

 to raise aquatic plants, on which they feed. 



A herd of these fine creatures was observed by a column 

 of troops some years since, while marching to Patna. On 

 discovering the scarlet uniform of the soldiers, they threw 

 out the usual signals of hostility, and galloped off; then 

 suddenly wheeling round, came in a body, as if they de- 

 signed to charge, and their horns overtopping their heads 

 rendered it doubtful whether they were not mounted by some 

 hostile force. Part of the column therefore halted and 

 formed, and the animals, suddenly struck by the glittering 

 of the arms, turned tumultuously round, and dashed under 

 cover. 



These anecdotes prove the skepticism of some of the 

 Continental naturalists, respecting the existence of wild 

 Buffaloes in India, to be entirely misplaced. In ancient 

 days, the race was occasionally reduced to a precarious 

 subjugation, by the order, arid for the amusement of the 

 native princes ; and even now, the largest of the domestic 

 breeds, mounted by their keepers, and brought into the 

 arena, are urged to combat with the tiger, who is almost 

 invariably defeated. But why upbraid the hateful cruelty 

 which thus excites these animals to such barbarous ex- 



