Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-24
THE SERvICEABLE CARABAO
It is Almost Indispensable to Natives in the
Philippines.
Has Been Tried by Our Troops With
Success Under Certain COndi-
tiOns-Habits of the Beast.

water DuHalo, Tor army purposes In the
Philippines has been subject Of specula-
ton and experiment during the operations
of our army in the archipelago through the
| rainy season. The almost indispensable
character of the carabao to the natives
| made 1t seem advisable to try the creature
for transport service in place of the mule,
and several trains of ammunition and pro-
| visions have been carried in the rear of
our army by the buffaloes. These bull
trains for transportation purposes have
proved success under certain conditions.
Where haste and dispatch are necessary
they are dismal failures, but if no particu-
lar hurry Is essential to the expedition they
oner some points of superiority to the mule
train They are more to be depended upon
In hot, wet countries like the Philippines
during the rainy season than the army
mule, but in any other land they would be
OF little use. The bulls are as strong as
almost any animal in existence, rivaling
the elephant in their ability =. haul what
ever they are hitched to; they are
large, clumsy. slow and phlegmatic animals.
Ihey cannot be driven faster than their
ordinary gait, which at the best is almost
at snaifs pace. AS an instance of their
slowness. an army train of bulls was re-
Gently dispatched with load of provisions
and ammunition from the Bagbag river to
San Fernando Although only a distance
OF twelve miles, it took the bulls over half
a day to cover the distance
Inc peculiar necessity of their bathing
frequently in the rivers in order to keen
| up their spirits and strength during a Jour
ney is both an advantage and disadvantage.
In travelling through the country in the
rainy season. rivers and swollen streams
are encountered every mile or So and
crossing these is a pleasure rather than a
disadvantage to the carabao. In fact, they
must battle frequently, or they will sue
cumb TO the heat and fatigue Of the jour-
ney. If given all the bathing they want
the carabao bulls will work continuously
and never show signs of exhaustion; but
cut them off from all water for any length
OF time, they will drop down dead in har-
ness This dependence upon water for bath
Ing. and their great slowness are the chief
points against them.
The flies. mosquitoes and other insects in
the Philippines are SO large and numerous
that even the mules are seriously disturbed
by them, but the carabaos after bathing in
the muddy streams, have their bodies so
coated with mud and slime that the in
sects cannot bother them 1t is partly for
this protective purpose that they roll in the
muddy bottoms. for undoubtedly long ex-
perience has taught them the value of this
coat of dry mud
The government has bought lid consider
able droves of these animals for army uses
and they are employed constantly in carry
ing pack trains across the rough country
When the mules are needed for other pur-
poses. Our men have not yet thoroughly
learned the art of driving and controlling
these strange beasts of burden The China
men are the best drivers of the carabaos
and Chino" driver is employed for every
one that Is sent out with provision train
The animals are quiet and docile if handled
properly, but if crossed or angered they
snow temper and power that makes them
more formidable than the native wa rriors
TO fight off The Chino" drivers know how
TO favor the beasts. and when to give them
water and when to make them leave the
stream With stones and loud shouts they
force the animals to come out of their bed
OIL water and mud and in lin
yoklng again. Sometimes, however half an
hour Is wasted in getting the carabaos har-
MESSED ready for resuming the journey
Ihey are trained so well that thew stem
into line and over the shafts as carefully as
gentle horse waiting to be harnessed.
Inc animals are rudely yoked to the carts
fo are rn urve e py means of rope fastened
urvers control them by means of this rope
ana loud shouts similar to those used by
farmer In steering his yoke of oxen The
animals are so slow of foot that thew were
ruled on the principal street of Manila no
cause they fmpeded the progress of traffic
ana caused FREQUENT trouble. The beasts
are able to strike a good gait however aS
witnessed many times in rrnaways Tban
they show fieetness of foot that s,,rnrisea
an VINO are not thoroughly acquainted with
Ihen out their hide is so tough that tho
drivers cannot prod them deem enough 70
force them to a faster trot A wild ca1ahao
Is not an agreeable animal to meet. and
there are immense herds of them roa wiz
In the Islands. Several times tbav hane
charged upon our soldiers in anger and
tS u d sensation OF more importance
t thair d charge OF the native soldiers With
lheir iohS horns and powerful muscles they
are able to give whole regiment all tbs
s ~ork ~ needs for short time The bullets
rom tne rifles do not always kill or even
eiippie tne wild beasts, and a charge CAN
not be checked by a volley or two frar,
Weli-directed rifles. The shooting snme-
III ZINES serves to anger the animals instead
OF illuminating them, and they ninnaa
through the deep grass and inneIas iit
.. a nladdened nerd of elephants. and some
tipes prove almost as formidable. '''''e
1hese wild buffaloes come from tho l.;
terior, "here many natives spend their
tune In capturing and tanning them T.
takes long time to tame the wild creatures
anu nreak them into service. Some old bulls
absolutely refuse to be tanned and thu
snow their resentment for cantura ~
the time of their death. Most of tbose IN
service are born and bred in GA ntivity 81
t ste youfg calves are very easily trained
LOT use stu enough of the wild carabaos
are caught every year to keep the stock
from degenerating. They take to civilized
HE much more readily than our American
bison, resembling in this resnect the tr,,n
water buffalo of India "e
me strength of these animals is marvel,
Gus. In respect to size. strength and non.
uefousness they resemble the elephant more
than any other crea ture They simnIy ha,,I
anything that Is hitched behind tha,n -
1t Is the shaft or traces that break If the
ioau cannot be moved. Across all sorts Of
roush and miry country they pull the load
although they have not the sure footine
OF the mule in climbing steep and rough
mountains and hills. They are better IN
the soft, miry lowlands which comnose
so large part of the Philippines. When
ansered and running away they dash across
the country with their heavy load as If
II was so much light, fiimsy cotton Not
only are they then regardless of what is
behind them, but also of what NAV rear
itself In front. Be it river fence, ditch
OF Jung or another cart. the maddened
animal plunges blindly through or across ~
and never halts until disabled or its anger
mas evaporated. In the latter case it then
suuuehiy becomes as meek and docile as
before III whipped for it's misdeeds ito
meek eyes seem to ask why it is punished
ana they look as innocent as those of a
enid or a deer. In truth it is a strange anil
ma ma ana NOT much unlike the natives of