code: byte[] getBuffer()
      {
          if (Tracing.isAnyTracingEnabled() && trace.isEntryEnabled()) {
              trace.entry(this,
                          cclass,
                          "getBuffer");
              trace.exit(this,
                         cclass,
                         "getBuffer",
                         "return length="
                                         + buf.length);
          }
          return buf;
      }
docs: /*
  @returns the underlying buffer.