240 ^Tcmotr on the Wool and Shcrp 



What T liare here said is contrary to «ur ideas anel 

 methods in regard to the breeding of sheep. Meadows are 

 no where found in Indostan. The Hindoo is convinced that 

 an ear of rice or wheat, or of any other gramineous plant, is 

 preferable to ten and even to a liundred trusses of hay. 



The ileeces of the Cachcniirian sheep are in general in 

 good condition^ because the Hocks are never conducted 

 among brush -wood, which would tear the wool on the back 

 of the animal. It is well known that the only wool suscep- 

 tible of acquiring delicate and brilliant colours by the pro- 

 cess of dyeinar, is white wool: for this reason the Cacheini- 

 rians separate all those lambs which are black or brindcd. It 

 is known also that the longest is the littest for being spun, 

 and for making strong cloth. 



The general practice in Cachcmire is to shear the sheep 

 only once in the year, by this method the wool obtained is 

 longer and of a better quality. But the shepherds of this 

 country know, that if the fleece were left on the animal for 

 a long time, and particularly on eweSj they could neither 

 b'ucklc their young nor be rendered productive. I shall not 

 cuter into any explanation of these motives, as the utility of 

 both practices has been proved by experience : I shall 

 therefore only observe, that the shearing takes place fifteen 

 or twenty days alter the return of the great heats, in order 

 that the sliecp may perspire ; which renders the wool more 

 pliant. 



An essential and peculiar quality of the Caelicmirian 

 ■wool is, that it has no hard coarse part* This is a valuable 

 ■quality, since hard wool is found even nmono- that of the 

 Spanish sheep. 



7Vt the time of shearing, the Cachcmirlan shcphcfd.'^, 

 who have long studied every thing that can contribute to 

 preserve the beauty of their breeds, to improve the wool, 

 and prevent diseases among their iiocks, bathe the sheep 

 twice a day, and even oftener \\ hen the heat increases and 

 renders it necessary. The periods for performing this opera- 

 tion are tv/o hours after sun-rise, and the afternoon, when 

 the ravs of the sun begin lo be weakened in consequence of 

 their obliquity. Tliey have observed that bathing when the 

 sun is vertical crisps the wooly renders it harder, checks 

 perspiration^ and exposes the sheep to the danger of what is 

 called strokes of the sun: this is a severe accident, and oc-» 

 casions fevers which are called giddiness. 



Cleanline.-s is the first ca\ise of health: this principle is 



true in ever/ respect; it not oidy preserve> from diseases, 



b"it maintains the beauty of form. Every European travcl- 



.1 ler. 



