"Our calf grew into a handsome and powerful buffalo. He not only became the head of our small herd, but also became the head of all the herds in our hamlet after many ferocious and successful fights with the other males. We named him 'Tank,' because when he hit another male during a fight, he struck as heavily as a tank." ("Tank, the Water Buffalo," page 3)

"Sometimes, to entertain a guest at our house, [my cousin] would make the [pet] python into a coil and use it as a pillow. In fact, pythons make very good pillows. Their skins are soft, and their cool blood makes it seem as if your head is resting on an air-conditioned pillow." ("My Cousin," page 17)

"A fully grown male hog can weigh almost three hundred kilos, and its skin is covered by a thick covering of the sap from a tree...