136 VERTEBEATES. 



but no one must disturb it, they must either proceed b^ anothei 

 road or wait until the sacred animal is pleased to rise. With 

 singular inconsistency the Hindoo, although he honors the bull 

 with such absurd reverence, yet has no pity on the ox. While 

 the consecrated bull wanders with impunity through the streets, 

 walks into shops (china shops or otherwise), and resents with a 

 peevish push of its horns the slightest affront, the ox is fastened 

 to the plough, urged on by the goad, and put to every kind of 

 labor. The Zebu-cow, although not quite so well treated as the 

 bull, yet enjoys more forbearance than the ox. 



The Buffalo is by no means so beautiful a creature as the 

 cow ; his figure is more clumsy and awkward ; his air is wilder ; 

 and he carries his head lower, and nearer the ground ; his limbs 

 are less fleshy, and his tail more naked of hair; his body is shorter 

 and thicker than that of the cow kind ; his legs are higher ; his 

 head smaller ; his horns not so round, black, and compressed, with 

 a bunch of curled hair hanging down between them ; his skin is 

 also harder and thicker, more black, and less furnished with hair ; 

 his flesh, which is hard and blackish, is not only disagreeable to 

 the taste, but likewise to the smell. The milk of the female is by 

 no means so good as that of the cow ; it is, however, produced in 

 great abundance. In the warm countries, almost all their cheese 

 IS made of the milk of the Buffalo ; and they supply butter also 

 in large quantities. The veal of the young Buffalo is not better 

 eating than the beef of the old. The hide of this animal seems 

 to be the most valuable thing he furnishes. The leather made of 

 it is well known for its thickness, softness, and impenetrability. 

 As these animals are, in general, larger and -stronger than the cow, 

 they are usefully employed in agriculture. They are used in 

 drawing burdens, and sometimes in carrying them ; being guided 

 by a ring, which is thrust through their nose. Two buffaloes 

 yoked in a wagon, are said to draw more than four strong horses : 

 as their heads and necks are naturally bent downward, they are 

 thus better fitted for the draught, and the whole weight of their 

 bodies is applied to the carriage that is to be drawn forward. 



Although these animals are chiefly found in Asia, yet they 



