Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-21
THE CARABAO AT WORK.
The wafer Buna4o, the Beast of Bur-
den in the Philippines.
Manila Cnrrasnondence -Chicapn Record

The Wafer Buffa1o, the Beast of Bur-
den in the Philippines.
Manila Correspondence Chicago Record.
Long of horn and tough of hide is the
carabao. Sometimes it is called the water
buffalo. and it resembles the animal of that
name which is found in India. Tho name is
fitting for the owner If left to itself. will
stay In the water nearly all day. To the
native 1t is invaluable. 1t tills his fields and
draws his product to the market. 1t is
meek and patient and docile. with great
strength and a will to pull whatever 1t Is
ycked to over any road.
The army has found the bull train to be
of great service in transporting provisions
and ammunition from point to point. Once
the transfer had to be made from the Bag
bag river to San Fernando, distance of
twelve miles. 1t took half a day to make
the Journey. Some of the carabaO died, but
as rule the method of transportation was
a success, though slow. A buffalo, draw
ing a heavy load Of ammunition, was
driven up a sharp grade at Bagbag to
reach the railroad track. Both front feet
slipped and the beast fell to his knees. Yet
he pulled that load up the grade on his
knees and did not attempt to stop until the
strain had slackened. Then it was found
that the knees of the animal had been SKIN
ned and were bleeding.
One popularity about the buffalo is that
he must have water, and demands 1t twice
day at least. Through the green that
surrounds the walled city the south
there runs a small stream that empties and
fills with the ebb and flow of the tide.
When It is low there is plenty of mud. and
when high the water is not clear. But the
government carabao that are loafing there
now are not particular about the condition
of the stream. They feed along the green
slope until the heat of the day. then they
crawl down into the mud and lie there until
the rays of the sun are behind the walls Of
the city, when they come out again for the
evening meal. Should they be wanted in
the meantime the driver goes down to the
bank and begins to throw stones and shout,
"Hoo-o, Hoo-a." When that sound breaks
upon them as they stand there with their
eyes shut and with jaws elevated above the
water line deliberately chewing their cuds,
with one accord they silently sink out of
sight. Sometimes they remain under water
for more than minute. Then they begin
to come up, one at time, and as they ap-
pear the "Hoo-o, Hoo-a' of their tormentor
still smite3 the peaceful afr. Slowly they
move off. and 1t is not always in the right
direction. It sometimes takes a half hour S
la Dor to get the drove to the bank. If they
are covered with mud it suits them better,
for then their hides have q coating which
the fly and mosquito cannot penetrate.
If the Carahao are to work in the carts
they step In between the shafts as carefully
elephant steps over the form of his
keeper. The carabao is nearly as large as
the elephant and fully as awkward. The
yoke Is fastened to the shafts, and the
beast must turn his head sideways that his
mammoth horns may go through. The
beast minds like a child, and turns his
great head this way and that. the driver
demands. Sometimes Carabao run away,
and then there is trouble for anything or
anybody in the way. They are blind with
fury and drag their loads behind them as
though they were hitched to fairy carts.
Cinnamon know how to humor the ami
Chino driver The Cinnamon sit on the
carts or ride the backs of their beasts and
drive with one rope hitChed to a ring in the
animals noses. By a series of jerks and
ejacula tons they sklifully guide their carts
through the most crowded thoroughfares.
The one thing they cannot do Is to make
the carabao hurry, The animals are slow
of foot. and it was because of their poking
gait that they wfFe ruled off the Escolda
the broadway Of Manila.
Soldiers can drive them, and some have
ma stored the art OF saying the words and
jerking the guide rein but a Chnaman
usually squats like a monkey on the cart
It is q legend that the CarahaO can scent a
European from afar. and that the knowl-
edge sets him villa with anger. Further
the legend declared that If white man
passed in front of a carabao the animal
would gore him. If this We're ever true the
carabao has Thought better of 1t, and has
adapted himself to circumstances.
There are immense herds of caraboa liv-
ing in a wild state on the islands, if what
is told for truth can be relied on. 1t Is a
business of one of the tribes to catch and
tame these animals. But when born in ser
vice they are easily broken. A buffalo calf
resembles a vevet-nosed Jersey for about
six weeks of its earlier existence. 1t has
slim legs. jumps about and bleats with all
the abandon of a high-bred heifer, and
enjoys life for a couple Of years. Then its
horns grow out-sometimes straight from
the side of its head-until 1t has to turn its
head to pass through a common gait. There
is great variety of horns. Some sweep
back, in a graceful curve, some droOp.
some spread like antlers, but all are long
and grow to a sharp point. The carabao
| is usually a drab or mud color. but there
is one which travels about Manila that is
as white as an animal can he.
A daily plunge into water is a necessity
to the buffalo. If he does not get 1t he
dies. This was found true with the train
that started with Gen. Lawton for the ex-
petition among the foothills. Water was
not at hand for the abao to wallow In
and they fell over with their loads and
died in the sun. Sometimes they go mad,
and IL they then spy pool somewhere
about they will dash for 1t. regardless of
what is behind. This happened once when
the train was carrying supplies to San Fer
nando. One buffalo broke through a fence
and plunged down steep bank into a
stream. taking with him the cart and its
entire load. except the driver. who stood
on foot demonstrating In Tagalo with the
unruly beast.