194 THE BUFFALO, &c. 



the animal, the tongue of which alone is good 

 for eating. The fkin is iblid, pretty flexible, 

 and almoit impenetrable. As thefe animals are 

 larger and ftronger than oxen, they are employ- 

 ed with advantage in different kinds of labour. 

 They are made to draw, and not to carry bur- 

 dens. They are directed and reftrained by means 

 of a ring pafTed through their nofe. Two buf- 

 faloes yoked, or rather chained, to a chariot, 

 draw as much as four ftrong horfes. As they 

 carry their neck and head low, the whole weight 

 of their body is employed in drawing ; and their 

 mafs much furpaffes that of a labouring horfe. 



The height and thicknefs of the buffalo are 

 fufficient indications that he originated from 

 warm climates. The larger! quadrupeds are 

 produced in the Torrid Zone of the Old Conti- 

 nent ; and the buffalo, in the order of magnitude, 

 mould be ranked next to the elephant, the rhi- 

 noceros, and the hippopotamus. The camelo- 

 pard and the camel are taller, but thinner ; and 

 the whole are equally natives of the fouthern 

 regions of Afia and Africa. Buffaloes, however, 

 live and produce in Italy, in France, and in o- 

 ther temperate countries. Thofe kept in the 

 royal menagery have produced twice or thrice. 

 The female brings forth but one at a birth, and 

 goes with young about twelve months; which 

 is a ftill farther proof of the difference of this 

 fpecies from that of the cow, whofe time of 

 geftation is only nine months. It appears, like- 



wife 3 



