l6o accoutit of the fat rumpedjfjeep. Aug. 'j, 



some brack:fh well, of which they dvink most greedy- 

 \j. In (hort the flocks partake both the pleasures 

 and sufferings' of their wandering masters, and enjoy 

 almost as much liberty. 



However in one respect, they enjoy but a limi- 

 ted portion, that is in illicit and promiscuous amours, 

 to prevent which the Tartars tie about the belly of 

 the rams, some old rags, after* they have covered the 

 ewes at a stated time, so that they may bring forth 

 their young, when every natural advantage awaits 

 them. Forty or fifty rams are sufficient for a thou- 

 sand ewes, and still they are so prolific, that they 

 generally bring two, and often three lambs, at a time ; 

 especially when the bandage of cha tity has been 

 employed. 



Thas the fheep are fattened from their infancj'-, 

 and their size augmented : first by great abundance 

 of mother's milk, and then by saline bitter pastures, 

 insomuch that they often weigh in those regions 

 20u pounds ; of which weight, the soft oily fat alone 

 that forms on the rump, independent of suet, amounts 

 to from twenty to forty pounds. The uropygium or 

 fat rump, which is made up of this oily species of 

 fat, is so very large as to incommode the animal in 

 walking; but when the same. fheep are carried in- 

 to the interior parts of Rufsia, the tail loses half its 

 size and weight, nay sometimes more, from a change 

 in their food and mode of lite. 



Johnston in his work on quadrupeds, confirms tho 

 fattening and prolific effects of saline pastures by say 



* Query, Ought not this to be before. £dit. 



