626 



THE BANTENG, OR JAVAN OX. 



obtains concealment. The ' spoor ' of the Buffalo is like that of the common ox, the toes 

 of the old bulls being very wide apart, whilst those of the young ones are close together ; 

 the cow Buffalo's footprints are longer and thinner than the bull's, and smaller. 



As these animals wander in the open ground during the night, and retreat to their 

 glens during the day, their spoor may be taken up from the outside of the bush, and 

 followed until the scent leads to the view. When the hunter comes near to his game, 

 of which he should be able to judge by the freshness of the footprints,, he should wait 

 and listen for some noise by which to discover their position. Buffaloes frequently 

 twist and turn about in the bush, and do so more especially just before they rest for 

 the day. 



I knew a Kaffir who carried about him the marks of a Buffalo's power and cunning. 

 He was hunting Buffaloes one day in the bush, and came upon a solitary bull, which he 

 wounded; the bull bounded off, but the Kaffir, thinking him badly hurt, followed after 

 at a run, without taking sufficient precautions in his advance. Now, dangerous as is 

 a Buffalo when untouched, he is still more to be dreaded when hard hit, and should 

 therefore be followed with the utmost caution. 



The Kaffir had hurried on through the bush for a hundred yards or so, and was 

 looking for the spoor, when he heard a crash close to him, and before he could move 

 himself, he was sent flying into the air by the charge of the Buffalo. He fell into some 

 branches and was thus safe, for the Buffalo was not satisfied with this performance, but 

 wished to finish the work which he had so ably begun. After examining the safe position 

 of his victim, he retreated. 



The Kaffir, who had two or three ribs broken, reached his home with difficulty, and 

 gave up Buffalo-shooting from that day. 



It appeared that this cunning animal had retraced its steps after retreating, and had 

 then backed into a bush, and waited for the Kaffir to pass. 



A great sportsman at Natal, named Kirkman, told me that he was shooting Buffaloes 

 when he was across the Sugela river on one occasion, and having wounded a bull, he 

 was giving him his quietus, when the creature sent forth a sort of moan. Now the 

 Buffalo always dies game, and rarely makes any other noise when hard hit. This moan 

 was probably a signal ; and as such it was translated by the herd to which this animal 

 belonged, as they suddenly stopped in their retreat, and came to the rescue. Kirkman 

 dropped his gun and took to some trees, where he was in safety. Fortunate it was for 

 him that timber happened to be near, as the savage herd really meant mischief, and 

 came round his tree in numbers. When they found that he was safe from their rage, 

 they retreated. 



The vulnerable parts in a Buffalo are behind the shoulder, near the kidneys, or high 

 up on the back. His head is so protected by his horny helmet, that a bullet does not 

 easily find a vulnerable point in the forehead. I once met a Buffalo face to face in the 

 bush, we were about three yards apart ; I fired at his forehead, aiming between the 

 eyes. I know that my bullet struck true ; the Buffalo fell, but soon jumped up again, 

 and scampered off. This was certainly a fair trial of lead versus horn, and horn had 

 the best of it." 



ANOTHER species of Buffalo is the ANOA, an inhabitant of the island of Celebes. This 

 animal was formerly thought to belong rather more to the antelopes than to the oxen, 

 but is now satisfactorily ascertained to be a member of the genus Bubalus. It is a small, 

 but very fierce animal, and is with difficulty made prisoner. Some of these creatures, 

 which were kept in confinement, killed in one night fourteen stags which were placed in 

 the same inclosure. The horns of this animal are quite straight, and are set nearly in 

 a line with the forehead. In length they equal the head, are boldly flattened in front, 

 and are covered throughout their length with successive wrinklings. The Anoa is 

 generally found among the more rocky localities of its native island. 



The BANTENG, or JAVAN Ox, possesses something of the homely aspect which belongs 

 to the common domestic cattle. It is, however, a very strong, fleet, and active animal, 

 inhabiting the wooded valleys of its native land, and living in small herds under the 

 watchful guardianship of vigilant sentries. 



