332 InlrodKction of the 



dead. AH these animals were unhealthy, although feeding 

 freely on an excellent pasture, in a dry and warm summer, with 

 the power of resorting to shelter at night. No particular di- 

 rections regarding their treatment having been received, nor 

 any knowledge communicated respecting the diseases to which 

 they were subject, either in their native climate or after their 

 transportation to Bengal, no precautions were adopted with re- 

 spect to them, nor any rational plan of cure attempted. But 

 it must be remarked, that none of this flock were subject to 

 that disorder of the feet, which, in a subsequent one, appeared 

 to be the chief cause of their distress. It is not unlikely that 

 their ill health might have been prevented by the use of certain 

 precautions, which will be mentioned when the mode of ma- 

 naging them in India is described. 



Of these four, two began to shew marks of an eruptive dis- 

 ease, resembling the scab in sheep, after they had been in 

 the pastures for the space of a month or six weeks ; and the 

 usual remedies were employed without success, as the disorder 

 continued to increase till the period of their death. But the 

 other two, which shewed no marks of disease, equally pined 

 away and lost their appetites ; and, in the course of the sum- 

 mer, the whole flock sickened and died in succession. No 

 change of food, except that of a free access to hay, was at- 

 tempted ; but, like other goats, they shewed a great desire to 

 eat the leaves of any branches of trees that were presented to 

 them. On inquiring respecting the disease abovementioned, I 

 was unable to discover that it was known in their native country 

 or in Bengal ; but as our information respecting their habits is 

 still very limited, it may possibly be one to which they are 

 subject. It is at least certain, that, even in their native moun- 

 tains, they are in that high state of domestication which pro- 

 duces artificial habits and the diseases of civilization ; and it 

 is probable, that with more attention to their treatment, and 

 more knowledge of their habits, some of the failures which 

 hare taken place in this country may hereafter be prevented. 



No directions had been transmitted respecting the manage- 

 ment of the fleeces, or the period or mode of shearing them. 



I 



