BUFFALO-HUNTING. 149 



themselves fortunate if they ever obtain a trophy worthy of 

 a place beside the mighty heads and horns secured during 

 the first and second quarters of this century. 



Wild buffaloes, when not worried and disturbed, are 

 remarkably bold, roaming fearlessly in open day over their 

 grazing grounds, and seeking shelter in heavy jangle from 

 the midday sun only; or more commonly they lie in miry 

 pools, buried to the nose in muddy water, defying the flies, 

 which torment them in the open plains and thick reeds. 

 Carrying such immense horns as they do, buffaloes avoid 

 tree coverts, through which they can penetrate with diffi- 

 culty only, whereas through heavy grass and tall, stout reeds, 

 they pass as easily as do fish through water, with heads held 

 high and level with the back, and horns thrown upon the 

 shoulders. Where these animals constantly traverse im- 

 mense areas of gigantic reeds, growing to the height of fif- 

 teen to eighteen feet, innumerable alleys are formed, along 

 which they pass backwards and forwards, completely shel- 

 tered from the sun, the leafy tops intermingling and forming 

 a canopy overhead. 



The hunter, following a herd with his line of elephants 

 into such a covert as that just described, need take heed, for 

 he may, and often will, find himself assailed by animals 

 whose horns alone can be seen now and again as they surge 

 past him with a mighty crash of breaking reeds, charging 

 and butting his elephants, and creating among them greater 

 alarm and unsteadiness than will snarling tigers, or even the 

 snorting and ponderous rhinoceros. It is no uncommon occur- 

 rence for severe wounds to be received under such circum- 

 stances, or even for elephants to be brought down upon their 

 knees by the home charges of bulls of more than ordinary 

 bulk, which will continue their attacks till killed or dis- 

 abled, or till their adversaries have been driven off the 

 field. 



As brave as a boar, and as ferocious as a tiger or pan- 

 ther, a buffalo will often disdain to quit his ground, preferring 

 rather to fight till death, if unable to vanquish his assailant ; 



