NATURAL HISTORY. 



125 





THE ZEBU. 



The ZEBU or BRAHMIN BULL is a native of India. It is 

 a very conspicuous animal on account of the hump on its 

 shoulders. There are different breeds of it, some larger than 

 the English cattle, and some hardly larger than an ordinary 

 hog. The Hindoos treat it with great reverence, and will not 

 suffer it to he molested. It is in consequence so tame and 

 familiar that it will often walk down the streets, examine the 

 shops, and perhaps help itself to some sweetmeats ; or it will 

 lie down in the narrow street ; but no one must disturb it, 

 they must either proceed by another road or wait until the 

 sacred animal is pleased to rise. With singular inconsistency 

 the Hindoo, although he honours the bull with such absurd 

 reverence, yet has no pity on the ox. "While the consecrated 

 bull wanders with impunity through the streets, walks into 

 shops, (china shops or otherwise,) and resents with a peevish 

 push of its horns the slightest affront, the ox is fastened to the 

 plough, urged on by the goad, and put to every kind of labour. 

 The Zebu-cow, although not quite so well treated as the bull, 

 yet enjoys more forbearance than the ox. 



