P L A T E XXIV.
A BATTLE BETWEEN A BUFFALO AND A TIGER.
T , r , apnea,-mc- of ihcwiUl bllffillo is extremely ficrce ; l,e seems 10 lookiT.Ui
,ll.,lni„ o„ every liviog ol.jeel, anJ lo rely on the great strengll, lie possesses to
o v e r l l n ow ,vl,ale,er „,ay be opposed 10 his ,-age. The smallest provoealmn
irril .tes liim inereclil.ly ! And such is Ids eol.rage, that lie ^vill somelimes attaek
even a -ronpe of elepi.anls going for fodder. I do not lldnk that ti.ere can be
„ nmre' n.enacing objeel than a single wil d bnlValo, disturbed from « a l lowu. g m
Ibe nmd His looks are ferocious in the exlreme, and the knowledge ot his
brutal disposition by no means allays the apprebcnsious to wbicli Ins countenance
and goslun-s give birtli. The wbol c race, wl iclber wild or tame, have an eye lull
of miscliief- and arc never ou any occasion lo be trusted. Even among ihe
domesticated herds there appears a certain jealousy of strangers, and especially
of Europeans, whom llicy view willi a suspicious glance, and uot unfrequenlty
attack wilhout any warning. All the cattle in India have a similar propenslly;
owing perhaps Lo injudicious Ircalment when young; aud increased by llieir
b e i n ° s o link acenslomed 10 see any bul the almost naked Indian. There
is certainly a very wide contrast between the sable skin of ihe naUves and the
w h i l e drosses of our eountrynicu in thai sultry climate.
Biillalocs arc extremely impalieut of heat, and are generally allowed during
the day to wallow in muddy stagnalc pools, which are never wanting in the
neighb'ourhood of all towns ihroughoul Bengal. Uiiriiig the hoi mouths, the
hc-ds of bullaloes arc grazed during ihe night only, when the gcvm.lah or
aheen, wliicb are easts, or seels, confining their avoealious enlirely lo the care
of cattle, ilrivc them into the woods, generally mounliiig ihcmsclves on the loins
of tbeir favourilcs. In ibis manner lliey pass ibo night in ihe midsl of opake
gloomy covcrs, in which tigers perhaps abound, wi lhout a|iprehension of danger.
Somelimes a son of wooden bell is suspended round the neck of one of the herd,
which by its sound, keeps ibc whole compact; al least sufficienlly so lo be
colleclcd'Willi case al the dawn of day, when they are driven 10 the pools, in
which Ihcy remain, wilh lilllc exception, immeraed until the cool of ihe
afternoon ; 'when, having slept in ihc water, iheyare, as before, driven lo ihcir
feeding places. ,
Buffaloes, as well as elephants, scent a liger very quickly, and by iheir
snorting and agitation soon communicate the alarm to the whole herd. A calf
w i l l now and then struggle, when, of course, he runs some risk of being
carricd off. If, however, ihc lilllle one's voice be heard, or the mother suspect
any danger, nolhiug can exceed her uneasiness; the signal is given to all, and
no time is lost in allaeking the sly marauder. Even a single buffalo will not
hesitate, under such circumstancs, to rusb at a liger; whence we may judge of
the spirit and impetnosily wi l h which a whol e herd proceed to the charge. The
herdsmen are so fully satisfied on this point, as lo feel no doubl of their own
safely, as long as ibey continue wilh their cattle : such as deviate from the
common track of prudence must lake the consequences. Few accidents are
said lo happen ; the herdsmen generally remain seated on tbeir bullaloes,
driving Ihem lo the best grass ; and, by their usual calls, keeping all within a
proper compass.
T h e great men, that is lo say, the Nabobs, and Soubahs of all ranks (for there
are many degrees of importance among them, though each deems himself of
the bigbest consideration,) at particular times, and especially al the auniversaries
of some of their own famdy, give splendid entertainmenU. Al these is to be
seen whatever is rare and attractive. In situations where tigers can be obtained,
they are opposed to biiiralocs, or occasionally to cle|diants or other animals.
A s security is the soul of amusement where conflicts of such a nature arc to be
e.xhibitcd, every precau tion is taken to enclose the area in such manner as may
obviate all reasonable fear, wi thout obstructing tbe view of the combat. VVIici e
a liger is of the dmmath personam, too much caution cannot be nsetl. There have
been instances of their effecting escapes, and pulling all tbe spectators completely
to the rout. The theatres arc, however, in general so high as t-o banish apprebension,
being fully adet|uale to the purpose; the liger will, it IS true, sometimes
make desperate clVorts lo gel over, and at times may appear liki^ly lo
succeed ; bul under the disadvantages allondanl on his climbing, lillle I'orce is
equal to repel him. A few men stationed wilh stout |)ole5, a long the top of such
parts of the jialing or barricade, as may be least elevated easily tnru him back.
m n j B l ï I O W OF A^BATTI.F. BEl-WKEW A B ima t O Â- A TUCEKTT L W i IIÎEPHES1WTATI0N B"IW COMi i T EBTI E UH BriFFLE E T f ^ TIGRE.;