514 HISTORY 01* 



Were there but one of each kind remaining, it is probable the 

 race of both would shortly be extinct. However, such is the 

 fixed aversion formed between these creatures, that the cow re- 

 fuses to breed with the buffalo, which it nearly resembles ; while 



voice, and moving with considerable swiftness, but so ponderous as to be dis- 

 inclined to ascend ; its scent is keen, but the breadth of the horns impede its 

 sight. This species of buBalo lives in families or small herds in brushwood 

 and open forests of Caffraria, occasionally uniting' in droves upon the plain. 

 Old bulls are often met alone, but though these are, if possible, still fiercer 

 than the younger, they are less swift or inclined to exertion. lu the woods, 

 they make paths for themselves, where it is extremely dangerous to fall in 

 with them. Professor Thunberg gives an appalling account of the destruction 

 of two horses by one of thes^^ auiraals, the riders providentially escaping by 

 climbing trees, and the professor himself driven to the same expedient, 

 though his horse remained imhurt, owing to the buffalo turning into the wood. 

 Sparraann, who first fully described this species, is no less animated in the 

 dangerous hunting exploits he witnessed. 



They are excited to madness by the sight of red colour, and swim with 

 great force. The hide is made into shields, cut into whips and traces, and is 

 so hard that a musket ball will scarcely penetrate into it, unless the lead he 

 mixed with tin. If this animal could be reudei-ed tractable, it would make 

 t!ie most powerful in agriculture existing. Since the increase of tlie settle- 

 ments about the Cape of Good Hope, the buffalo is become more scarce in 

 t!ie colony, but they spread along the eastern side of Africa to an unknown 

 distance in the interior. 



The Pagasse. {B. Pegasus.) The names of Pacasse of Gallini and Carli, 

 F.inpaguessa of MeroUa, Erapacasse of Lopes and Marniol, indicate an ani. 

 mal, presumed to be a species of buffalo, but not described with sufficient pre- 

 cisian to be admitted into the catalogues of nomenclators. The word is 

 evidently of great antiquity and extent, as may be gathered from Pliuy, 

 although at present banished from the regions where the Arabic has usurped 

 the ancient language, and confined to the regions of Angola and Congo, wliere 

 it is coupled with the generic name £m or £71, denoting a Bovine animal. 

 Thus Engamba a cow, Empalanga, another large ruminant which is conjec- 

 tured to be the Tackhaitze of Daniell ; and Era-pacasse. Pliny relates that 

 iEthiopia produces winged horses, armed with horns named Pegasl Fathers 

 Gallini and Carli observe, that, " On the road to Loando in the kingdom of 

 Congo, they saw two pacasses, which are animals very similar to buffaloes, 

 roaring like lions ; the male and female being always together. They are 

 white with rufous and black spots ; with ears half a yard in length, and the 

 horns always straight. When they see human beings they do not flee, nor 

 do they harm, but stand and look on." Lopes describes them as somewhii: 

 less than an ox, but similar in head and neck. Dapper reports them to Oe 

 buffaloes of a reddish colour with long horns. 



These testimonies are very vague, but still indicate one and the same ani- 

 mal, partially misrepresented. To these accounts might be added the notice 

 of Captain Lyons respecting the Wadan, " a fierce buffalo, the size of an ass, 

 having large tufts of hair on the shoulders, and very long heavy horns " 



The Arnee <JS. Arni.) India and China are the native regions of anot! m 



