160 THE OX TRIBE. 



ON THE UTILITY OF THE OX TRIBE TO 

 MANKIND. 



How eminently serviceable to man these animals are, 

 is shown in the following table, in which are set forth the 

 most important uses to which their various parts are 

 applied : 



SKIN. The skin has been of great use in all ages. 

 The ancient Britons constructed their boats with osiers, 

 and covered them with the hides of bulls ; and these boats 

 were sufficiently strong to serve for short coasting voyages. 

 Similar vessels are still in use on the Irish lakes, and in 

 Wales on the rivers Dee and Severn. In Ireland they 

 are called curach, in England coracles, from the British 

 cwrwgl, a word signifying a boat of that structure. 



Boots, shoes, harness, &c. for horses, and various kinds 

 of travelling trunks are made from hides when tanned. 

 The skin of the calf is extensively used in the binding of 

 books, and the thinnest of the calf skins are manufactured 

 into vellum. The skin of the Cape Buffalo is made into 

 shields and targets, and is so hard that a musket ball will 

 scarcely penetrate it. 



HAIR. The short hair is used to stuff saddles and 

 other articles; also by bricklayers in the mixing up of 

 certain kinds of mortar. It is likewise frequently used 

 in the manuring of land. The long hair from the tail 

 is used for stuffing chairs and cushions. The hair of the 

 Bison is spun into gloves, stockings, and garters, which 

 are very strong, and look as well as those made of the 

 finest sheep's wool ; very beautiful cloth has likewise been 

 manufactured from it. The Esquimaux convert the skin 



