AN EXPLORATION IN THE FAR EAST 329 



on our rifles alone. We were both heavily armed with 

 two-ounce rifles, however, and several smaller guns in 

 reserve, so we marched straight on the foe, with our very 

 miscellaneous pack of dogs under orders to be let go at the 

 first shot. The bull and his harem came boldly down to 

 meet us, and as we approached commenced his usual 

 demonstrations to put us to flight — ^pawing the earth with 

 his feet, tossing his mighty horns, and making short runs 

 in our direction. But we steadily advanced, and when 

 within about eighty yards separated a little, so that one 

 should get a flank shot, the fuU front of the buflalo being 

 practically proof against lead. It was my turn for first 

 shot, and when about sixty yards intervened I knelt down 

 and brought the heavy rifle to bear on the point of his 

 shoulder. Crash went two ounces of lead, propelled by 

 eight drachms of powder, against his tough hide, and he 

 fell upon his knees. Bang went several more of our shots, 

 and he stumbled ofi dead lame and very much crestfallen. 

 Following him up vnth the dogs, who were now baying 

 round him, we overhauled him in an open field, and repeated 

 the dose again and again till he fell heavily against the 

 embankment of a rice-field, and then, stepping up, I put 

 a three-ounce sheU behind his shoulder, and with a quiver 

 of the hmbs he gave it up. He was a fine animal, in the 

 prime of life, and we were amazed at the bulk and strength 

 exhibited by his massive form. The horns were each three 

 feet ten inches long, which is nearly the extreme length 

 they ever attain here.^ He had sixteen bullets in him before 

 he died, several of large cahbre, and at close quarters. 

 We were, however, shooting with bullets of plain lead, and 

 I found that my first two-ounce ball, propelled by eight 

 drachms of powder, had flattened out on his shoulder, 

 pulverising the bones, however, and completely laming 

 him. After this we shot with hardened projectiles. 



Next day we embarked in a long canoe, hollowed from 

 the stem of a mighty sal tree, on the bosom of the Mahanadi 

 and sailed down to Sambalpur in two days and a night. It 

 was mighty exciting work, the stream passing at intervals 



^ Fossil horns of mucli larger size have been found in the Narbadd 

 gravels, along with bones of the hippopotamus, etc. 



