144 THE OX TRIBE. 



Culley goes on to say : " From the nature of their 

 pasture, and the frequent agitation they are put into by 

 the curiosity of strangers, it is scarce to be expected that 

 they should get very fat; yet the six years old oxen are 

 generally very good beef, from whence it may be fairly 

 supposed, that in proper situations they would feed 

 well," 



It would naturally be inferred from this, that the park 

 in which they are kept is visited by strangers every day, 

 who are allowed to drive them about, and disturb them 

 in their feeding and ruminating, as boys hunt geese or 

 donkeys on a common. This, however, is so far from 

 being the case, that it frequently happens that the park 

 is not visited for many weeks in succession, and certainly 

 on an average it is not visited once a week. What is here 

 meant by " the nature of their pasture," and " in proper 

 situations they would feed well/' it is difficult to say. 

 The fact is, their pasture is both good and extensive, and 

 they feed as well as animals always do who are left to 

 themselves with plenty of food. 



Their behaviour to strangers is thus described : " At 

 the first appearance of any person, they set off at full 

 speed, and gallop a considerable distance, when they make 

 a wheel round, and come boldly up again, tossing their 

 heads in a menacing manner ; on a sudden, they make 

 a full stop, at a distance of forty or fifty yards, looking 

 wildly at the object of their surprise ; but upon the least 

 motion being made, they turn round again, and gallop 

 off with equal speed ; but forming a shorter circle, and, 

 returning with a bolder and more threatening aspect, they 

 approach much nearer, when they make another stand, 

 and again gallop off. This they do several times, shorten- 



