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RECORDS OF THE EXPORT OF IRISH WOLF-DOGS 

 TO THE EAST IN THE 17TH CENTURY. 



BY V. BAU,, C.B., U,.D., F.R.S. 



In his interesting " Notes on the History of the Irish Wolf- 

 dog," J Prof. J. P. O'Reilly has given evidence of the importa- 

 tion of these dogs in the 17th and 18th centuries into Spain, 

 where they were employed in keeping the wolves in check. 

 I would refer to that paper readers who may desire to become 

 fully acquainted with the subject, and with a philological 

 investigation of the Continental terms which were applied 

 to this variety of dog. Again, in his monograph on the Irish 

 Wolf-hound a Capt. G. A. Graham has given much informa- 

 tion about the export of these dogs to England in the 16th, 

 17th, and 18th centuries. Exportation appears to have been 

 progressing too fast, however, and in fact threatening exter- 

 mination of the breed ; for we find that 



"In 1652 a Council Order of Cromwell's Government prohibited the 

 export of Wolf dogs, and offered rewards of ^5 and £6 respectively for 

 male and female wolves." 



On the present occasion I propose to quote certain authors 

 in connection with the actual export of Irish Wolf-dogs to 

 the far East, and the high esteem in which they were regarded 

 there at a still earlier period. In the year 161 7, during an 

 interview between the Emperor Jahangir and Sir Thomas 

 Roe, the former having spoken slightingly of some presents 

 which had been forwarded to the latter for distribution at 

 Court, but which Jahangir had appropriated, added : 



" I will keep them, and only desire you to help me to a horse of the 

 greatest size. It is all I will expect, and a male and female mastiff, and 

 the tall Irish greyhounds, and such other dogs as hunt in your lands, and 

 if you will promise me this I will give you the word of a king I will 

 fully recompense you, and grant you all your desires." 



Sir T. Roe writes : 



" I answered I would promise to provide them, but could not warrant 

 their lives, and if they died by the way, only for my discharge their skins 

 and bones should be preserved ; he gave extraordinary bows, laid his 

 hand on his heart, such kind gestures as all men will witness he never 

 used to any man, nor such familiarity nor freedom, nor profession of 

 love." 3 



1 Proc. Royal Irish Academy (3rd Ser.), Vol. i., 1890. 



2 Dursley, 1885. 



3 Travels in India the 17th Century. London : Trubner, 1873, p. 91. 



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