THE AFRICAN BUFFALO. 



warns the traveller to beware of an animal who carries fuch true traits of 

 his real difpofition in his countenance. Treacherous in the extreme, he 

 conceals himfelf among the trees, and there Hands lurking till fome paflenger 

 comes by, when he rufhes out at once into the road, and attacks the unwary 

 traveller, who has no chance of efcape, but by climbing up a tree, if he is 

 fortunate enough to be near one. Flight is of no avail, he is fpeedily overtaken 

 by the furious beaft, who, not content with throwing down and killing him, 

 Hands over him for a long time afterwards, trampling him with his hoofs, 

 and crufhing him with his knees, and not only mangles and tears the body to 

 pieces with his horns and teeth, but likewife ftrips off the fkin, by licking it 

 with his tongue. Nor does he perform all this at once, but often retires to 

 fome diftance from the body, and returns with favage ferocity to gratify 

 afrefh his cruel appetite. 



The Buffalo may, notwithftanding, be hunted, though he will fometimes 

 turn and hunt his purfuers, whofe greater! fecurity, in this cafe, is the fwiftnefs 

 of their horfes. 



Like the Hog, he delights to wallow in the mire, which, flicking to the 

 hair on his fides, fometimes gives him the appearance of having a broad belt 

 round his body. 



The flefh of this animal is lean, but full of juice, of a high flavour. The 

 hide is fo thick and tough, that targets, mufket proof, are made of it; it 

 likewife affords the flrongeft and befl thongs for harnefs. It is fo tough in 

 the living fubjecl, that it is impenetrable to a leaden mufket ball ; nor can the 

 animal be killed but with balls hardened with a mixture of tin ; and even 

 then, thefe are often flatted. 



We fliall clofe this account of the Buffalo with a narrative of an attack 

 made upon one of thefe formidable animals, as related by Dr. Sparrman, from 

 ocular obfervation : this may ferve to give a competent idea of its nature 

 and difpofition. " As foon as we had got a glimpfe of our game, each of 

 "iis ftrove to fire before his neighbour, fo that we appeared entirely to have 

 loft fight of all prudence and caution. When we had advanced to within 

 twenty or thirty paces of the animal, we difcharged our pieces almoft at the 



