throws himfelf into the firft water he meets with, whether it be frefh or fait. One thing is certain, and that is, that he frequently, and feemingly with great pleafure, wallows in the mire; and from this circumftance it is fup- pofed he could not, with any profpect of fuccefs, be tamed for the yoke, as when he was weary and warm, he would throw himfelf into the neareft water, or be guilty of fome other tricks. Mr. H e m m i n g , the fub-governor, had, during r a y re- fidence at the Cape, endeavoured to tame a buffalo; but it was faid, that this animal was too wild, and at the fame time too ftrong and ungovernable to be confined by any yoke or harnefs whatever; or to be kept in order and fub- jedtion by the tame oxen, which were trained -for that pur- pofe, and along with which he was to be yoked. W On my return through Krakekamma I faw a buffalo- •calf, as tame as any of the ordinary calves with which it was grazing. It had been taken foon after it was brought into the world, having the navel-ftring hanging to it-; 'but notwithftanding its being fo young, it made great-reiift- ance to the people who caught it. A fortnight afterwards -it had already acquired fo much ftrength, that the owner d f it, a flout lu fty !mafi,- found it difficult to'lead it along. In fa£t, it was fomewliat taller, and much ftouter than other calves o f the fame age. The colour o f it was a very light brown, the hairs long and rough, and on the back lying in whirls; in the nape of the heek thefe fame hairs inclined forwards, while thofe on the forehead were turned 'backwards; bn the lip, fome o f them were long and ftiff; and indeed, ¡they were of a confiderable length on the whole whole o f the lower jaw, and under the b.elly. The fore- December. \ part of this creature appeared to be low in proportion to the reft o f its body; the head was large, and the ears long and pendent; the legs ffiorter than thofe of an ordinary calf; and its afpedt fulky and treacherous. The owner intended to prefent it to the governor for his menagerie. For my part, I do not in the leaft doubt of the poflibility o f breaking buffaloes for the yoke, provided the calves are taken very young, and are put to it at an early period, and for a long time together. By a properly adapted fparing diet, and frequently milking the cows, thefe animals might, after feveral generations, lofe as much o f their fiercenefs as might be thought neceffary, and yet retain fo much o f their native vigour as to be ftronger than the common oxen. It would be a curious experiment, to couple -the male or female, buffalo with a common bull or cow,. Moft of the wild buffalo-calves that I have feen were, like the tame one I have juft defcribed, of a light brown colour; and the younger they were, the paler was the colour. I have already obferved, under the date o f the 9'th of this month, with what ftrength the buffalo preffed into the midft o f the clofeft thickets; in this the beaft is affifted by the broad part of its horns, which, at the fame time that it ferves to pierce through the prickly bullies, is o f ufe in .guarding and faving its eyes. The fleffi o f the buffalo is coarfe and not very fat, but full of juice, and of a high and not difagreeable flavour. The hide is thick and tough, and is in great re- queft with the farmers for thongs and harneffes. Of it we made the only halters that can be depended upon for K a fecuring
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