THE BUFFALO. v £0, 



rior to the cow's, but in warm countries it is used both 

 for butter and cheese. The veal of the young buffalo 

 is equally unpalatable with the beef which is produced 

 from the old, and the most valuable part of the whole 

 animal is generally allowed to be the hide, the leather 

 of which is famous for impenetrability, and for the 

 softness and smoothness of the wear. The chief use of 

 these animals is for drawing immense burdens and 

 weights ; they are guided by a ring thrust through the 

 nose, and then yoked to a waggon in pairs ; and their 

 strength is allowed so superior to a horse, that two buf- 

 faloes will draw as much as two pair. 



The wild buffalo, which inhabits many parts of India, 

 are a very fierce and formidable race, and there is no 

 method of escaping their pursuit but by climbing up 

 into some immense tree; a moderate size would be no 

 security, for they can' break down those of inferior 

 growth, and many travellers have been instantly gored 

 to death, and then trampled to pieces by their feet ; 

 they run with a surprising degree of speed, and cross the 

 largest rivers with the greatest ease ; and the method 

 which the hunters adopt to destroy them, is to fire upon 

 them from some of their thickest trees. 



Although so wild in a state of nature, no animal in 

 the world can be easier tamed ; and though they are 

 never quite so docile as the cow, yet they are patient, 

 persevering, and have a greater share of strength. 

 Though the torrid zone is properly their native clime, 

 yet in many parts of Europe they are bred ; and the 

 lower order of the Italians are so sensible of their value, 

 that they absolutely consider them as a source of wealth. 

 The animal has such a strong antipathy to fire, that the 

 very resemblance of it occasions them alarm and dread; 

 and the inhabitants of those countries where they most' 

 abound, avoid appearing either in scarlet or red. 



