MUSK- NYL-GHAIT. Ill 



fashionable wor.id, and so much used in the practice 

 ef physic. This drug is found in a hag, or tumor, 

 nearly of the size of a hen's egg, which -grow;-; on the 

 belly of the male. Of these bags many thousands are 

 annually sent to Europe, besides what are nsed in the 

 East. Tavernier tells us, that, in one journey, he col- 

 lected 7t>73 musk-bags* To account for this amazing 

 supply, it is by some supposed, that the musk is often 

 adulterated and mixed with the blood of the animal. 

 It is generally asserted, that when the musk-bag is 

 first opened, so powerful an odour comes from it, that 

 every person present is obliged to cover his mouth 

 and nose with several folds of linen ; and that not- 

 withstanding this precaution, the blood will frequently 

 gush, from the nose. When the musk is fresh, a very 

 small quantity, in a confined place is insupportabje : 

 it causes giddiness in the head and haemorrhages, 

 which have sometimes proved fatal.. 



THE NYL-GHAU 



Is a curious and beautiful animal, which seems- to-- 

 be of a middle nature, between the cow and the deer, 

 to both of which it bears a resemblance. In size it 

 exceeds the latter, as much as it falls short of the for- 

 mer: its body, horns, and tail, are similar to those of 

 the cow, and the head, neck, and legs, resemble those 

 of the deer. The colour is generally grey, from the 

 mixture of black hairs and white. Along the ridge 

 of the neck, the hair is blacker, , longer, and more 

 erect, forming a short, thin, and upright mane. Its 

 horns are about seven inches long, and six inches in 

 circumference at the base, terminating in an obtuse 

 point. The ears are large, broad, and beautiful, being' 

 about seven inches in length, and of a white colour on 

 the edge and the inside, except where marked in the 

 hollow with two black bands, resembling the stripes 

 of the zebra. The height of the iiyl-ghau has been 

 measured, and found to be four feet. Several of these 

 animals were introduced into this country in the year 

 1767, which continued to breed annually for some 

 years. They were mild and' gentle, pleased with ta- 

 HuUarity, and fond of licking the hands of any person. 



