306 
BUFFALO. 
stronger than that of the bull ; and his bellow- 
ing hideously frightful. 
Notwithstanding the general resemblance which 
the form of the buffalo bears to that of the com- 
mon ox, yet the ox and the buffalo are distinct 
species. They refuse to copulate together ; the 
female buffalo will not suffer a common calf to 
suck her, nor will the cow suckle a young buffalo-; 
the female buffalo goes twelve months with young ; 
our cows only nine. 
The milk of the buffalo, though generally in- 
ferior in quality to that of the cow, is used for 
the same purposes ; in those countries in which 
the species is domestic, it affords a great deal of 
cheese. The flesh of this animal is also eaten ; 
but it is black and hard, has a disagreeable taste, 
and a more disagreeable smell. The only part 
that can be called good eating is the tongue. The 
skin is more valuable than the flesh ; it is solid, 
pretty flexible, and almost impenetrable ; and is 
accordingly prepared into excellent buff. The 
horns are employed in various manufactures. The 
strength and size of the buffalo render him su- 
perior to the ox as a beast for the draught. A 
ring, passed through bis nose, enables the driver 
to manage him. He carries his head and neck 
low ; and of consequence the whole strength of 
the body is employed in drawing. These advan- 
tages of size and carriage are so considerable, 
that two buffaloes will draw as much as four 
strong horses. 
The buffalo is a native of the warm cli- 
mates. These animals abound in India, Abyssinia, 
Egypt, and in the neighbourhood of the Cape of 
Good Hope. They exist in a wild state in Ma- 
labar, Borneo, and Ceylon. The negroes of Ma- 
labar, and of Guinea, where they are also nuuie* 
