Quadrupeds of Ceylon. 297 
<employed to draw them in carts of a particular construction, 
known on the island by the name of handies. These vehicles 
are very long, narrow, and clumsy. The body of the bandy 
rests on a strong beam, which projects like the pole of 
a carriage. To the extreme end of this pole a piece of wood, 
about six feet long, and very thick, is attached crosswise. 
Under it are hoops fixed for the necks of the cattle, which are 
kept fast by pegs. By this means the whole weight of the load 
rests on the neck and shoulders of the oxen, while they drag the 
cart along. The sides of the cart are composed of thin boards, 
of the skins of buffaloes, or split bamboes ; while a strong post of 
wood / is placed at each of the four corners to give it a shape 
and hold these firm. The bottom is either of boards, or inter- 
woven bamboes: the axle-tree and wheels resemble those of 
the Irisli truckles, or cars, being blocks of wood rounded. 
Buffaloes, being much larger and stronger than the oxen, are 
much more frequently employed in diawing burthens. These 
animals are found in great numbers on the island, both in a 
wild and tame state, and are all of the same species and ap- 
pearance. They are fierce and rough, extremely obstinate and 
untractable, with a wild forbidding countenance. Even such 
of them as are trained to the draught, and familiarised to the 
people, never lose their original habits, but are always danger- 
ous to meddle with or to meet in the fields. In shape, they are 
broad before, and narrow behind, and their legs are thiek and 
short. They always carry their heads low : their horns are 
black and very thick, shooting out backwards to a considerable 
length, and bending towards the shoulders. The buffaloes do 
not employ their horns offensively in the same manner as our 
bulls, but first run headlong at their object and trample it im- 
Q Q 
