410 THE HIGHLANDS OF CENTRAL INDIA. 



be a much more dangerous opponent than the bison, being 

 less timid, and also found in country where there is usually 

 no protection to be derived from trees or rocks. In Bengal 

 they are scarcely ever shot in any way but from elephants ; 

 and then have been known to prostrate an elephant in their 

 charge. The prime sport with buffaloes is on horseback ; but 

 it is rare that ground is found fit to ride them on with any 

 degree of safety, and I never heard of its having been accom- 

 plished excepting on the occasion above related. I am sure, 

 though, that with a horse clever over rough ground, and a 

 light breech-loading carbine, capital runs at buffaloes might 

 often be secured by watching them into favourable ground. 

 To kill them with the spear would, I conceive, be utterly out 

 of the question. We cut open one bull down the chest with 

 an axe, to see what stopped our balls so strangely in front 

 shots, and found that a bullet fired into the chest has to pass 

 through more than two feet of hide, bone, and gristle before 

 reaching the cavity of the lungs. Nor is the brain more 

 accessible, the animal holding its head either elevated till the 

 nose is level with the eyes, or, if charging, down between its 

 fore legs and quite protected from a shot. A plain leaden 

 bullet of an ounce weight, with three drachms of powder, will 

 go clean through the skull if hit perpendicularly, which, how- 

 ever, it is nearly impossible to do. The best places to fire, 

 both at bison and buffalo, are through the point of the 

 shoulder, if the rifle be powerful enough, or, if not, then be- 

 hind and a little above the elbow. The centre of the neck is 

 also very deadly, if the aim be true ; natives almost always 

 fire there with their matchlocks. The skull and horns of a 

 bull buffalo are so large and heavy as to form a considerable 

 encumbrance as a trophy to the sportsman marching fast with 

 a light camp. Its value is completely spoilt, however, by 



