1841.] On Bos GauTus. 581 



The largest individual I met with, was killed in an island of the 

 Kala Nuddee in the district of Soonda, in 1827. A noted shikaree, 

 the Potel or headman of Alloor (a Hubshee or negro descendant of some 

 of the numerous African slaves imported in the 15th century by the 

 Mahommedan kings of Beejapoor, and who still exist as a distinct 

 race, in this district,) called us at day-light, and promised to shew us 

 one of the animals described by him as a wild buffalo. Crossing the 

 river in a canoe, we struck into the forest and soon came upon a track 

 which he pronounced to be that of a large bull. On this he proceeded 

 with the steadiness and sagacity of a blood-hound, though it was often 

 imperceptible to our eyes. At times when a doubt caused us to stop, 

 he made a cast round, and on recovering the track summoned us to 

 proceed by a loud whistle, or by imitating the cry of the spotted deer, 

 for not a word was spoken, and the most perfect silence was enjoined. 

 As we advanced he pointed silently to the broken boughs or other 

 marks of the passage of a large animal, and occasionally thrust his 

 foot into the recent dung, judging by its warmth of the vicinity of the 

 game. We followed his steps for three miles to the river, then along 

 the banks towards Dandelly, where the animal appeared to have passed 

 to the other side. Wading across, we ascended the bank of a small 

 island covered with thick underwood, and some large trees, amongst 

 which it had lain down, about fifteen yards from where we stood. The 

 jungle was so thick that we found it difficult to distinguish more than 

 a great black mass among the underwood. On firing the animal got 

 on his legs, received two balls more, and rushed into the jungle where 

 he became very furious, and we were obliged to shelter ourselves be- 

 hind the trees, to avoid the repeated charges he made, though one 

 ball through the shoulder which had broken the bone above the elbow, 

 prevented his moving with facility. He then became exhausted and 

 lay down, snorting loudly and rising to charge when any one approach- 

 ed. A ball in the forehead caused him to roll over the precipitous 

 bank into the river. Still however he was not dead, and several balls 

 were fired into his forehead behind his ear and the junction of the 

 head and neck without life becoming extinct ; one ball which had 

 struck the vertebrae of the neck was taken out almost pulverized. 

 When drawn ashore and examined more minutely, the first sentiment 



produced in all present, was astonishment at his immense bulk and 



4 D 



