1812. 
CAPE BUFFALO. 
251 
times been made in the Colony, by taking them when very young, 
and rearing them under the domestic cow : but, partly from injudi- 
cious management perhaps, and partly from its natural ferocity, no 
permanent success has hitherto attended these endeavours. Yet, 
notwithstanding these failures, it is an attempt which might not be 
wholly relinquished, since it is not unreasonable to expect that a 
mixed breed between this and the common Cape cow, would pro- 
duce a more powerful and hardy race of draft cattle, and one which 
might possibly be exempt from those diseases to which the oxen 
of the Colony are often subject. 
The present animal was a male, and apparently not young, as 
the points of its horns were much worn, and its ears exceedingly 
torn and cut, probably in forcing its way through the thickets, or in 
butting or fighting with others of its species. The Hottentots say 
they are seldom found with ears quite entire ; and my own observ- 
ations confirm the remark. The meat was in taste like coarse beef; 
but in younger animals it is very palatable and wholesome, and free 
from any unpleasant flavour. 
It not being possible to lift the animal entire into the waggon, 
it was cut into quarters on the spot ; and as soon as it was brought 
home, every hand was set to work to cut the flesh into flaps and dry 
it on the bushes ; an affair which occupied all the remainder of that 
day, and part of the next. The real value of our ammunition may be 
computed from this circumstance, that two charges of powder and 
two balls now obtained for us a waggon load of provisions. 
I profited by this opportunity and the leisure occasioned by 
waiting for the drying, to make a finished drawing of the head, as 
expressive of the distinguishing characters of this remarkable species 
of buffalo. 
The following specimen of the Kora, or Koraqua, dialect^ was 
obtained mostly from Muchunka ; and is here inserted merely for 
the purpose of giving some idea of the structure and nature of 
Hottentot languages in general. This dialect, as it has already been 
stated, has a greater affinity to that of the Hottentots proper, than 
of the Bushmen ; and though requiring a more frequent use of the 
K K 2 
