WILD BULL BUFFALO AND ELEPHANT 497 



phants with their riders were marshalled before us. If it is 

 expected that I am to describe the gorgeous trappings and 

 costly harness of these animals, or the sumptuous dress of the 

 attendants, disappointment must follow. My savage friends 

 were little accustomed to stage effects or luxuries of any kind. 

 The noble animal had not even a pad on his back a rope 

 round his body was his only harness. The rider was dressed 

 nearly in the garb of nature, and the hook with which he 

 drives or guides his animal was his only weapon. A motion 

 from the Rajah's hand was the signal to advance. The 

 buffaloes at this unexpected attack naturally turned their 

 heads towards the elephants, and appeared as if drawn up in 

 order of battle. The scene now became interesting in the 

 extreme. The elephants continued to advance with a slow 

 majestic step, also in line, when in an instant the leader of the 

 bovines rushed forward with singular rapidity and charged 

 the elephants in the centre. Their line was instantly broken, 

 they turned and fled in all directions, many of them throwing 

 their riders, and breaking down the stockage one solitary 

 elephant excepted. This magnificent beast had been trained 

 for the Rajah's own use, and accustomed to the sport ; the 

 buffalo, returning from his pursuit, attentively surveyed him 

 as he stood at a distance alone in the arena. He seemed 

 for a few seconds uncertain whether to attack him or rejoin 

 the herd. None who do not possess the talents of a Zoffany 

 can describe the conflict which now took place ; the elephant, 

 the most unwieldy of the two, stood on the defensive, and his 

 position was remarkable. In order to protect his proboscis 

 he threw it over his head, 1 his foreleg advanced ready for 

 a start, his tail in horizontal line with his back ; his eager 

 eyes steadily fixed upon his antagonist. The buffalo, who 

 had hitherto been tearing up the ground with his feet, now 

 rushed forward with velocity. The tusker advancing at the 

 same time with rapid strides, received the bovine on his tusks 

 and threw him into the air with the same facility as an Eng- 

 lish bulldog would toss a cat, then drove his tusks through 



i This is a mistake. To protect their trunks elephants curl it up, and 

 do not throw it over their heads. F. T. P. 



K K 



