BUFFALO- 
309 
not sufficient depth to cover them. The mud, 
mixed with the water, forms a crust on their skins, 
by which they are preserved from the stinging of 
insects ; which, on account of the thinness of their 
hair, must otherwise prove very troublesome to 
them. Their proprietors light fires at night, to 
afford them an opportunity of drying the mud on 
their bodies, by exposing themselves to the smoke. 
Even of these Sumatran buffaloes there are two 
varieties, the white and the black. Both are em- 
ployed in labour ; but the white are scarce ever 
killed for food. Different reasons have been as- 
signed for this exemption ; some of the native* 
say, that the white are suffered to live uninjured, 
because they are accounted sacred ; others say, 
that the only reason is the inferior quality of their 
flesh. 
In Sumatra, the buffalo displays considerable 
docility and address. It is taught to lift the shafts 
of a cart with its horns, and place the yoke fixed 
to them across its own neck. The rest of the har- 
ness consists of a breast-band, and a string passing 
through the cartilage of the nose. This animal is 
not capable of undergoing much fatigue ; any ex- 
traordinary exertions, especially in the heat of the 
day, are likely to put an end to its life. The 
female buffalo affords better milk than the cow of 
Sumatra, but that not in so large a quantity. 
Wild buffaloes are also known in the same island. 
They are considered, not as an originally wild 
breed, but as stray cattle, and are therefore distin- 
guished by the name of carbow gellan. They are 
gregarious ; and it is remarkable, that in herds 
they are not so ready to attack the passenger as 
when met singly. Like the turkey, they discover 
an antipathy at red colours. They are as swift 
in running as an ordinary horse. When alarmed 
or attacked, they flee for a short distance ; then 
