CHAPTER V 



SACRED ANIMALS 



HUMPED CATTLE. — In India there are several breeds, or varie- 

 ties, of Humped Cattle. Of these the Indian Ox, Zebu, or Brahmin 

 Bull may be specially mentioned, more particularly as this beast 

 is also found in East Africa and Madagascar. Humped Cattle 

 are also inhabitants of the Chinese Empire. 



There are stated to be at least fifty million cattle in India, and 

 of the different varieties of the Zebu (a name which is only heard 

 in Europe and is never used in India) attention may be directed 

 to those represented in Figs. 65, 66, 67 and 68. Fig. 65 is a Hissar 

 Bull, the largest and finest variety of the Zebu; Fig. 66 shows a 

 Guzerat Bull ; Fig. 67 represents the interesting Gynee Cattle, 

 which are the smallest of all, being very little larger than a New- 

 foundland Dog; and Fig. 68 portrays a Cow of the Mysore, or 

 Trotting, Cattle, which is remarkable for the manner in which the 

 horns slope backwards. 



These beasts are much kept as pets, and this prompts one to 

 write of the place occupied by Cattle generally in the affection 

 of the Indian people. Whilst for riding and performing labours 

 of various kinds, these Humped, or Sacred, Cattle are highly 

 esteemed, they are also valuable on account of their flesh and 

 milk. But many of them are of gentle disposition, and for these 

 animals the Indians evince the greatest regard. Mr. Protheroe 

 says that many of the finer Zebu Bulls are dedicated to the God 

 Siva, but he goes on to say that "these sacred Bulls are nearly as 

 intolerable a nuisance as the venerated Monkeys. . . . They wander 

 just where they like in the streets and market-places, block up the 

 traffic, and no one dares to drive them away. They help them- 

 selves to the choicest vegetables and fruit, and the aggrieved 

 owners may not even check their depredations. They behave 

 generally like spoiled children or dogs, rendered selfish and 

 offensive by the weakness of those who ought to have taught them 

 better." 



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