The Angora or "Mohair" Goat. 71 



fleece, though lustrous, being hard and coarse. Angora, 

 the capital of the province of that name, produces five 

 different varieties from as many districts, each equal in 

 area to the largest English county. Yabanoon produces 

 a heavy, lustrous fleece. Tchorba, a mohair so soft and 

 fine that it falls to pieces as soon as shorn from the goat's 

 back. Tchiboukooa is remarkable for its length and 

 fineness. Ayash produces a white but lustreless fleece. 

 The rams of the three first-named districts are undoubtedly 

 thorough-bred, and though smaller in size than some other 

 varieties, have all the points that a practical stock-breeder 

 commends. . . . Jewar, or Near Town, is bright and 

 showy, but full of what is technically termed ' stick ' or 

 1 kempy ' hair. Beybazar, or Princes Market, is so near 

 Angora that the mohair it produces has no marked points 

 of difference. The ram is larger in size, very heavy, and 

 stands a sea voyage well. A few have recently been im- 

 ported into Cape Colony and California, the result in both 

 instances being highly satisfactory. Tchukess (or 

 ' Circassian village ') and Geredeh (or ' behind the 

 mountain ') are two districts where the Mohair goat has 

 been introduced in comparatively recent times, and where, 

 although stocked from other districts, they develop dis- 

 tinct characteristics owing to the difference of climate and 

 elevation. The Geredeh ram is a large and powerful 

 animal, covered with a fleece that seems almost black, so 

 surcharged is it with grease ; but when scoured the mohair 

 is found to be second to none in quality and fineness. . . . 

 The fleece of the Komah variety is reddish brown, and 

 though this reduces its value as mohair, it is sought after 

 for certain special manufactures. On the frontier of 

 Armenia and Mesopotamia, and far to the eastward of 

 this district, is a province called Van, which has hitherto 

 supplied a great weight of inferior mohair, more resem- 

 bling sheep's wool than goat hair." 



