BUFFALOES. 
193 
very subject; the ablution, therefore, is frequently repeated 
during the hot weather; and the effects sufficiently prove how 
essential, even in brutes, cleanliness is to health. The cere¬ 
mony was performed in a running stream, in the midst of which 
the cattle were quietly standing, whilst two or three persons 
were throwing the water on them by means of hollow wooden 
shovels. When the animals were thoroughly wetted, each man 
took a good-sized rough stone in his hand, with which he and 
his companions scrubbed them in succession in every part of 
their bodies. The buffaloes seemed highly delighted with this 
part of the operation; for they sniffed and snorted, and stood 
immoveable, as if made of marble. The skin, which relishes 
so well this rugged kind of currycomb, is something of the 
colour and texture of our black hogs, with rather more of the 
rough hide of the elephant. On the whole, they are a very 
hideous-looking animal, but perfectly tractable and obedient, 
excepting in hot weather when fording a river, and then the 
cool element is so grateful, they frequently stop in the midst, 
and nothing can move them for hours. Their strange appear¬ 
ance, when caparisoned to be ridden, and that of the wild 
shaggy figures of the natives who mount them, form a sort of 
savage troop, of an aspect perhaps more uncouth than 
terrible. It might recall the wild imagery of Spenser’s Faery 
Queene, when describing one of the “ beastlie” groups issuing 
from some enchanted forest in his allegorical tale. 
If I may judge of the general plenty on the plain of Ararat, 
by the hospitality myself and my party enjoyed within the walls 
of its monastery, every necessary of life is there in abundance ; 
even luxuries were not spared, during the three days I had the 
honour of passing with its patriarch ; and he told me, the 
c c 
VOL. I. 
