246 ANIMALS OF THE 



entirely mangled the whole body ; however, in 

 the woods they are not so much to be feared as 

 in the plains, because in the violence of their pur- 

 suit their large horns are apt to be entangled in 

 the branches of the trees, which gives those who 

 have been surprised by them time to escape the 

 danger. There is scarcely any other method of 

 avoiding their pursuit : they run with great swift- 

 ness ; they overturn a tree of moderate growth ; 

 and are such swimmers, as to cross the largest 

 rivers without any difficulty. In this manner, 

 like all other large animals of the torrid zone, 

 they are very fond of the water, and, in the midst 

 of their pursuit, often plunge in, in order to cool 

 themselves. The Negroes of Guinea, and the 

 Indians of Malabar, where buifaloes are in great 

 abundance, take great delight in hunting and 

 destroying them : however, they never attempt 

 to face the buffalo openly, but generally climbing 

 up the tree, shoot at him from thence, and do 

 not come down till they find they have effectually 

 dispatched him. When they are tamed, no ani- 

 mal can be more patient or humble ; and though 

 by no means so docile as the cow kind, yet they go 

 through domestic drudgeries with more strength 

 and perseverance. 



Although these animals be chiefly found in the 

 torrid zone, yet they are bred in several parts of 

 Europe, particularly in Italy, where they make 

 the food and the riches of the poor. The female 

 produces but one at a time, in the same manner 

 as the cow, but they are very different in the 

 times of gestation ; for the cow, as we know, 



