BUFFALO. 
441 
tichtion, has to exercise its digestive faculty on imper- 
fectly comminuted grass, incapable of affording due 
nourishment. 
The number of wild oxen in South America, says 
a late traveller iri that country, is so great, that every 
year one hundred thousand are killed solely for the 
sake of their hides. About twenty hunters on horse- 
back proceed to the spot where these animals are 
known to herd, having in their hands a long stick, 
shod with iron, very sharp, with which they strike 
the ox that they pursue on one of the hind legs, and 
they make the blow so adroitly, that thev almost 
always cut the sinews in two above the joint : the 
animal soon afterwards falls, and cannot rise again. 
The hunters, instead of stopping, pursue the other 
oxen at full gallbp, with the reins loose, striking in 
the same manner, all which they overtake : thus 
eighteen or twenty men will easily fell seven or eight 
hundred oxen in one hour. When they are tired 
of the exercise, they dismount to rest, and afterwards, 
without danger, knock on the head the oxen which 
they have wotinded. After taking the skin, and some- 
times the torigtle arid suet, they leave the rest for the 
birds of prey. 
Buffalo. 
The w oods and thickets being well stocked with buf- 
faloes, whose flesh is savoury and good, and hides parti- 
cularly valuable to the boors, as being the best as id 
toughestfor traces, and other waggon furniture, a party 
went out with a full determination to spend the day in. 
the chase after these huge animals. They presently 
started a whole herd ; and, at the first volley, succeed- 
ed in bringing down a large cow. The herd disper- 
sing in every direction, three of an enormous size 
were observed to rush into a thicket close to the spot 
where the waggons and tents were placed. Daniel! 
Vol.'ll. ‘ ‘ 3 ii 
