THE BUFFALO. 
41 
THE BUFFALO. 
Do they run in herds, like the bison 1 
Buffaloes run in herds, not however, for the purpose 
of mutual defense, but with the design of making war on 
men, and other animals. If any person ventures into 
the woods among them, they will instantly run at him 
in a most furious manner, bellowing as they go, and will 
trample him in pieces with their feet. The only way 
the person ha’s to escape, is to climb up into a tree. 
What more can be said of this animal ? 
The Buffalo is fond of the water, and is so good a 
swimmer as to cross the largest rivers. He dislikes a red 
color, and will destroy a person having on a red dress, 
if he can catch him. He fights with his fore feet more 
commonly than with his horns ; but he sometimes uses 
both, at the same time. 
Can this animal be tamed, or made to work ? 
He can be tamed very easily, if taken young, and then 
he becomes one of the most patient and mild among do¬ 
mestic animals. 
What are they taught to do ? 
In Italy and other countries, Buffaloes are yoked to¬ 
gether like oxen, and do the same kind of labor. They 
plow the ground, and draw the cart, like oxen. Two 
Buffaloes, it is said, will draw as much as four horses, or 
six oxen. 
Of what other use is this animal ? 
The skin of this animal makes the best of leather. 
His flesh is eaten in some countries, but is black and ill 
tasted. In Italy, butter and cheese are made of the milk 
of the Buffalo, but they are also disagreeable to the taste, 
and are eaten only by those w’ho cannot keep cows. 
What is the difference between the Buffalo and the ox ? 
There is a good deal of difference between the Buffalo 
and the ox. The appearance of the Buffalo is wild, stu- 
<, pid and disagreeable, while the ox appears grave, gentle 
\ and pleasant. The horns of the Buffalo, where they 
■■ leave the head are flat, and grow out of the top of the 
- head, very near each other, while those of the ox grow 
out on the sides ofhis head, and are round. The Buffa¬ 
lo’s flesh is black, hard, and ill tasted, while that of the 
; ox is tender and sweet, making the best of all meats. 
How often should we have reason to thank a kind 
| Providence, did we only remember how many blessings 
i we enjoy, in this country, which are denied the people 
{ of other countries. In Africa, the poor Negroes are very 
; glad to eat the flesh of the Buffalo, which is so disagree- 
f ' able, that we should almost starve before we could eat it. 
And in Italy, the poor children are obliged to drink the 
milk of this animal, and eat the butter and cheese made 
\ of it, or they would go hungry. Let us then, always 
remember that we ought to thank the great Creator, for 
the many blessings and comforts which surround us, and 
; not repine and be angry when we have not always just 
; what we want; when we have not what we love, let us 
i love what we have. 
ANECDOTE I. 
Professor Thunbnrg tells us, that while he was travel¬ 
ing in Africa, he and his companions had only just come 
[ to a forest, when they saw a large, old Buffalo, lying 
/ alone in a plain spot, where there were no bushes. The 
- animal, the instant he saw them, rushed on one of the 
; men with a horrible roar; but the man, turning his horse 
- behind a tree, the furious beast ran straight forward to 
' the next man, and in an instant killed the horse on 
, which he was riding, but did not hurt the man. These 
\ two men, being forward of the rest of the company, con- 
