are clothed with a sort of thick soft wool, but the inferior parts with straight pendent hair that descends below the knee; and I have seen it so long in some cattle which were in high health and condition as to trail along the ground. From the chest, between the fore-legs, ifsues a large pointed tuft of hair, growing somewhat longer than the rest. The legs are very short. In every other respect, hoofs, &c. he resembles the ordinary bull. There is a great variety of colours among them, but black or white are the most prevalent. It is not uncommon to see the long hair upon the ridge of the back, the tail, tuft upon the chest, and the legs below the knee, white, when all the rest of the animal is jet black.

"These cattle, though not large boned, from the profuse quantity of hair with which they are provided, appear of great bulk. They have a down heavy look, but are fierce, and discover much impatience at the near approach of strangers. They do not low loud (like the cattle of England) any more than those of Hindostan; but make a low grunting noise scarcely audible, and that but seldom, when under some imprefsion of uneasinefs. These cattle are pastured in the coldest parts of Tibet upon short herbage peculiar to the tops of mountains and bleak plains. That chain of lofty mountains situated between lat. 27 and 28, which divide Tibet from Bootan, and whose summits are most commonly clothed with snow, is their favourite haunt. In this vicinity the southern glens afford them food and shelter during the severity of the winter; in milder seasons the northern aspect is more congenial to their nature, and admits a wider range. They are a very valuable property to the tribes of illi

!

terate Tartars, who live in tents and tend them from place to place, affording their herdsmen a mode of conveyance, a good covering, and subsistence. They are never employed in agriculture, but are extremely useful as beasts of burden; for they are strong, surefooted, and carry a great weight. Tents and ropes are manufactured of their hair; and I have seen, though amongst the humblest ranks of herdsmen, caps and jackets worn of their skins. Their tails are esteemed throughout the East, as far as luxury or parade have any influence on the manners of the people; and on the continent of India are found, under the denomination of Chowries, in the hands of the meanest grooms, as well as occasionally in those of the first ministers of state. Yet the best requital with which the care of their keepers is at length rewarded for selecting them good pastures, is in the abundant quantity · of rich milk they give, yielding most excellent butter, which they have a custom of depositing in skins, or bladders, and excluding the air: it keeps in this cold climate all the year, so that after some time tending their flocks, when a sufficient stock is accumulated, it remains only to load their cattle, and drive them to a proper market with their own produce, which constitutes, to the utmost verge of Tartary, a most material article of commerce."

I have inserted the above article at full length, as it contains information that must be deemed important by every person who is curious in useful researches. Whether it be the same with the Chittigong cow,` of which I have had imperfect notices from other quar- ́ ters, or the Sarluc, or grunting ox, of which also I have received some obscure notices, with both which

1

the above account in some measure accords, so as to render this extremely probable, or if they are distinct from each other, my information does not at present authorise me to decide. But there can be no doubt that this is a breed of cattle (if it can be strictly admitted into that class) that is extremely different from any in Europe. It is a domestic animal at least, pofsessing many valuable qualities, and which it behoves us much to have its comparative merits fairly ascertained. It were greatly to be wished then that a breed of this cattle could be transmitted to England for that purpose. The state of my own finances cannot admit of me attempting to obtain the live animal myself; but I will take it as a singular favour, if some of my readers in India will favour me with correct elucidations on this head: and, if they can find it convenient, to accompany these with correct drawings of these or any other useful objects, it will be deemed a most acceptable present; for it appears to me that the drawing of the Yak which accompanies the above account must be incorrect (especially about the head), for which reason I have declined to copy it at present. It is so difficult to preserve dried skins with the hair on in such a long voyage, that I cannot presume to solicit that such should be sent. I may beg leave to add, that any packet for this miscellany will be properly forwarded if addressed to the care of Messrs. Colvins and Bazett, Calcutta; or Dr. Anderson, Madras.

Of the musk ox of Hudson's Bay I can speak with greater certainty, as I have often conversed with a gentleman who had lived twenty years in that coun

these animals, dead and alive. In its stature it does. not attain the size of an ordinary English ox; and in its form it so nearly resembles a sheep, that were it not for the horns, which are short, and of a very particular conformation, which I need not here describe, it might naturally be taken for a sheep in preference to any other known clafs of animals. The body is every where covered with a thick and deep coat of hair, the roots of which are imbedded in a close fur or wool, remarkably fine, and soft and silky. The hair is so long as nearly to trail upon the ground as the creature walks. The wool of this animal is so soft and fine, that Mr. Graham, my informant, caused some of it to be spun and wrought into gloves and stockings, which were warm and soft as fur, and lustrous like silk. They were so much coveted, that they had been all given away as presents before I had the pleasure of his acquaintance. A French gentleman, whose name I have now forgotten, presented to the Royal Academy at Paris, several years ago, some stockings and gloves that were made of the same material, which in softness, fineness, and lustre, were said to rival silk; so that there seems to be no room to doubt that it is of a very fine quality; and I was informed that the quantity is very considerable. The tail is covered with a particular kind of hair, of which the Esquimaux make great use in their manufactures, some of which are worked with a most amazing degree of delicacy. As to the other peculiarities of this creature, they are very little known. It is gregarious and active, going in great flocks together for a vast extent along those northern regions; and its flesh. forms a principal article of subsistence to the inha

the above account in some measure accords, so as to render this extremely probable, or if they are distinct from each other, my information does not at present authorise me to decide. But there can be no doubt that this is a breed of cattle (if it can be strictly admitted into that clafs) that is extremely different from any in Europe. It is a domestic animal at least, pofsefsing many valuable qualities, and which it behoves us much to have its comparative merits fairly ascertained. It were greatly to be wished then that a breed of this cattle could be transmitted to England for that purpose. The state of my own finances cannot admit of me attempting to obtain the live animal myself; but I will take it as a singular favour, if some of my readers in India will favour me with correct elucidations on this head: and, if they can. find it convenient, to accompany these with correct drawings of these or any other useful objects, it will be deemed a most acceptable present; for it appears to me that the drawing of the Yak which accompanies the above account must be incorrect (especially about the head), for which reason I have declined to copy it at present. It is so difficult to preserve dried skins with the hair on in such a long voyage, that I cannot presume to solicit that such should be sent. I may beg leave to add, that any packet for this miscellany will be properly forwarded if addrefsed to the care of Messrs. Colvins and Bazett, Calcutta; or Dr. Anderson, Madras.

Of the musk ox of Hudson's Bay I can speak with greater certainty, as I have often conversed with a gentleman who had lived twenty years in that coun