THE BUFFALO. 



623 



in all positions of danger. These herds are never seen on elevated ground, preferring 

 the low marshy districts where water and mud are abundant. In this mud they love to 

 wallow, and when suddenly roused from their strange pastime, present a most terrible 

 appearance, their eyes glaring fiercely from amid the mud-covered dripping masses of 

 hair. Sometimes the Buffalo is said to fall a victim to its propensity for wallowing in 

 the mud, and to be stuck so firmly in the oozy slime, as it dries under the scorching 

 sunbeams of that burning climate, that it can be killed without danger. They generally 

 chew the cud while they are lying immersed in mud or water. 



Captain Williamson, in his work on " Oriental Field Sports," speaks thus of the 

 Buffalo, and its mud-loving propensities : 



BUFFALO. Bubalus buffelus. 



" This animal not only delights in the water, but will not thrive unless it have a swamp 

 to wallow in. Then rolling themselves, they speedily work deep hollows, wherein they 

 lie immersed. No place seems to delight the Buffalo more than the deep verdure on the 

 confines of jeels and marshes, especially if surrounded by tall grass, so as to afford 

 concealment and shade, while the body is covered by the water. In such situations they 

 seem to enjoy a perfect ecstasy, having in general nothing above the surface but their 

 eyes and nostrils, their horns being kept low down, and consequently hidden from 

 view. 



" Frequently nothing is perceptible but a few black lumps in the water, appearing like 

 small clods, for the Buffaloes being often fast asleep, all is quiet ; and a passenger would 

 hardly expect to see, as often happens, twenty or thirty great beasts suddenly rise. I have 

 a thousand times been unexpectedly surprised in this manner by tame Buffaloes, and 

 once or twice by wild ones. The latter are very dangerous, and the former are by no 



