The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-01-16

TO be capable Of holding its own. IL bestrays
no such aversion 10 the vicinity of populations
as the bison manfests, aud in Farther India,
where the herds of tame buffaloes usually con-
sist entirely of cows, the wild males take up
their residence in the immediate neighbOrhood
oil settlements, aud frequently devastate the
cultivated lands and attack thoir proprietors.
There are many accounts of old freebootng
bulls who maintained themselves Wet arms,
as long as they pleased in this way but came
finally TO bad end through the arrival of some
stranger with a heavy rife. In hunting the
forehead shot is rarely resOrted to- since be-
sides the extremely massive character of the
frontal bone the brain is covered in this direc-
ton by the EXPANDED roots of the horns, which,
together with the osseous plate beneath them,
form a defense impemetrable. EXCEPT Mt one
spot, even by improved firearms. When a
view can be obtained the sportsman usually
directs his ball behind the shoulder So placed,
II IT misses the heart. it certainly traverses tho
lungs infiictinR wound which, despite the
great tenacity of life. proves RAPIDLY fatal from
hemorrhage The act of death is always
nounced, unless il be instantaneous. by deep,
hollow below. Whether the buffalo be noe
tnrnal or otherwise in its habits, depends, like
ITS temper upon the habitat If it is effectually
interiered with by day il feeds ut night, and
! visits the water during darkness.
WHEN ONE OF THESE ANIMALS CHARGES,
says Selons. who killed 300 of them under
with the nose straight out and the horns
back over the shoulders. They lower their
| heads just as they strike" Wounded butfaloes
will always charge" he adds, if their ad-
versary is near enough TO be clearly distin-
! guished. Scent is a much more highly -devel-
! oped sense than sight in this creature, and it
trusts to It's nose 10 warn il of approaching
danger 10 greater extent than il does 10 its
4 eyes or ears.
Probably the horns are the natural and most
I commonly employed weapons, both defensive
and offensive, of all animals of this order but
they do not always gore their enemies TO death.
In fact, most of the men on record as having
lost their lives by this brute were actually
Killed by being trampled. Like the elephant,
the buffalo very commonly adopts this method
OF dlSpatching a man, and if the stories of eye
witnesses may he relied upon, the effects of the
process seem 10 be very much alike, so far as
the obteration of human likeness goes.
whether the elephants foot or the bulls hoof
and knee be used. IN Diminishing this part of
the subject, one cannot do better than quote the
very sensible observations of Sir Samuel Baker |
who nearly lost his life several times by bufa-
Ices. This mighty Nimrod says: The char
acter can never be depended upon, |
and II the pursuit is not followed up rs a sport
by itself, the nature of the animal cannot be |
Judged by the individual behavior of any par |
tcular beast. Some will fight and some will |
hy, and no one can tell which will take place - |
1t IS at the option of the beast Caution and |
good shooting, combined with heavy rifles. are |
necessary" Otherwise. constant buffalo hunt |
ing would be "superlatively dangerous" This |
is much more acc0rdant both with the general |
tenor OF the evidence on this subject aud with
scientific principles than Capt Drayson sweep
ing assertion that old bulls are always sly
and vindictivc," and spend their days i'm am
bush, whence they will suddenly rush out
upon an intruder; or Burchcll's positive dec
Qrqfa fI1u4 aFtlt h. I
ierocious and dangerous" on account of its
fierce and treacherous disposition"
ferocity and aegressiveness may he assumed
10 IMPLY bravery IN a wild beast whose claim
70 the possession of moral courage has never
been established How experience modfcs the
manifestation OF this quality when feral ami
mails come IN contact with man has been fire.
quently stated in these papers; but in this in
stance, the consensus Of opinion is decidedly in
favor OF its existence IN the buffalo rs il exists
Many reliable accounts may be found in which
the brute is shown TO have
PREFERRED TO DIE FIGHTING
rather than attempt to escape. So, also, with
It's occasionally aggressive and unprovokcd
hostility. Maj. Leyeson and Capt Stevenson,
armed with heavy sgage rifles, which car
ried the largest size Jacobs Shells" together
with Dutchman named Van Jansen. whose
roah threw 3Ounce ball, met a small herd OF
bnfaloes on old elephant trail in the Motto
anis district. The hunters aud their numerous
attendants attempted to turn their advance on
tie narrow path closed on both sides by almost
impenetTable thickcls of thorn without attack
ing them but all the noise and demonstrations
they made had no effect The battle then com
menced. and not until four Of their leaders had
successfully fallen did the main body retreat
One OF these animals, that was shot through the
lungs rose again, burst through the bushes |
made detour, and fell upon the rear OF the |
.HrrfF Cfs4fg aVfua Fs,a
man 20 death, and literally pounding" bag !
gage-pony Into an almost indistinguishable !
heap" {
Like elephants, bufaloes congregate into
largo bodies, but their only unit of association
Is the family, aud beyond this no tie prevents
aIsaggregation at any time. 1t is impossible TO
decide upon the contradictory testimony con-
corning their habits Of domestic life. Whether
there Is really such creature as solitary bull.
or whether, supp0sing he exists, his isolation Is
q matter OF necessity or choice; or, finally.
what Is the effect Of solitude upon the DISPOSE
ton. IS altogether uncertain, and anyone at ALI
accustomed 10 analyze statements will see at
once that Leveson's dcnunciation Of the her
mat buffalo AS " the most cunning, malignant, !
lreacherous brute IN creation means very lit
tie as IL stands. With regard 10 its defensive
powers IL IS sufficient 10 say that in India a !
single buffalo sometimes successfully resists !
the attack OF tiger, and that, according 10 !
Of his herd is always safe. The African lion Is J
said by ANDERSON, Drummond, Selons. etc, to =
be also frequently foiled by the strength and l
courage Of the BOs Cafir. IL is, however not 2
difficult 10 Imagine that an animal six feet !
high, most formidably horned. nine feet long Q
IN the body, comparatively agile, very brave,
and often weighing upward Of 1900 pounds, G
might be formidable antagonist to almost any .
creature Nevertheless, the buffalo Is reported ]
70 be killed by wild dogs in Central India. and Z
i IS certain that he Is often pulled down by 3
oull-mastihs aud bull-terrers trained for the
purpose and then knitted by sportsmen.
: When IT is considered" says Sanderson. {
: with what case one good dog can pull down C
the largest tame buffalo or bullock, IL may easily
be supposed that bison or wild buffalo has no c
chance against three or four. A few S
logs prove more troublesome assailants '
-han tiger docs, as the latter, from his size, a
IAN be more easily tossed or trainped on" a
TO be oonttnued.J '
They disappear like hot cakes before 4 81.
Louis tramp" Tansilrs Punch &c Cigar. O