BRAHMIN (ZEBU) CATTLE. 211 



United States. Dr. Davis, who died in 1859, was a typical southern 

 gentleman of the old school, whose thorough knowledge of medicine was 

 combined with not only a close knowledge of, but also an enthusiastic 

 love for, progressive agriculture. In 1846, on the recommendation of 

 President James K. Polk, Dr. Davis was engaged at a salary of $25,000 

 per year by the Sultan of Turkey, Abdul Medjid, to attempt the intro- 

 duction of cotton into the Turkish Empire, and to instruct certain se- 

 lected pupils in the cultivation of cotton and the general principles of 

 the then modern American agriculture. As a matter of interest it may 

 be stated that the Doctor was successful in introducing three varieties 

 of cotton the White, the Nankeen and the Silk and continued his 

 work of instructing the Sultan's selected pupils for a period of three 

 years. During his three years' stay in Turkey, the Doctor obtained 

 pure-bred specimens of the Indian Buffalo (JBos gaurus} or "water ox," 

 the Cashmere goat, the Thibet shawl goat, and the Scind goat. These 

 were brought first to Turkey in Asia, thence to Turkey in Europe, and 

 thence to America via Liverpool. While in England with his family on 

 his way home, Dr. Davis became acquainted with the Earl of Derby, 

 who had some pure Brahmin cattle secured by him direct from India, 

 through the agency of the East Indian Co., a short time before. The 

 Earl had no Cashmere goats and the Doctor had no Brahmin cattle. 

 Negotiations were therefore made which resulted in a mutually satisfac- 

 tory exchange the Doctor leaving some Cashmere goats in England, 

 and adding to his already unique collection for shipment to America a 

 pair of pure Indian-bred Brahmins. 



For a time after reaching South Carolina the Brahmins, with the 

 other animals imported from Asia, were kept on the rice plantations in 

 the lower part of the state, but after a time were taken to the Doctor's 

 old homestead, in Fairfield county. About the time of the removal 

 Dr. Davis sold the original imported pair of Brahmins for $4,500 

 to a Mr. Eades of Kentucky their increase and most of the grade 

 offspring from common cows being afterwards sold to Col. Richard 

 Peters, of Atlanta, Ga. , who purchased also some of the pure bred 

 Cashmere goats. From the best information obtainable the cattle sold 

 Eades finally found their way to the McHatton farm above St. Louis ; 

 but it was too far north for them, and they were afterward sold at 

 auction. 



Brahmin cattle found their way to Mexico about 1867, when Mr. F. 

 McManus & Sons shipped 20 head descended from the Davis importa- 

 tion to the "Brachimba Farm," near the city of Mexico. No attempt 

 was anywhere made to keep them pure, but the grades were much 

 sought, and were soon widely scattered through northeast Mexico and 

 southern Texas. Col. Peters also made an importation of pure Brah- 

 mins before the war, and descendants of his stock have been scattered 



