THE NYL-GHAU. tl 



cipice of the mountain, the hunters are obliged to desist in their pur- 

 suit. 



The lama seems to be the largest of the camel kind in America; 

 there are others, which are called GUANACOES and PACOKS, that are 

 smaller and weaker, but endued with the same nature, and formed 

 pretty much in the same manner. They seem to bear the same pro- 

 portions to each other, that the horse does to the ass, and are employed 

 with the same degree of subordination. The wool, however, of the 

 paco, seems to be the most valuable, and it is formed into stufi's not 

 inferior to silk, either in price or beauty. The natural colour of the 

 paco, is that of a dried rose leaf; the manufacturers seldom give its 

 wool any other dye, but form it into quilts and carpets, which exceed 

 those from the Levant. This manufacture forms a very considerable 

 branch of commerce in South America, and probably, too, might be 

 extended to Europe, were the beauty and the durability of what is 

 thus wrought up sufficiently known. 



CHAPTER VIII 



THE NYL-GHAU.* 



THIS animal, the name of which is pronounced nylgaw, is a native 

 of India, and has but lately been imported into Europe ; it seems to 

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

 appearance of both in its form. In its size it is as much smaller than tho 

 one, as it is larger than the other ; its body, horns, and tail, are not 

 unlike those of a bull ; and the head, neck, and legs, are very like 

 those of a deer. The colour, in general, is ash or gray, from a mixture 

 of black hairs and white ; all along the ridge or edge of the neck, the 

 hair is blacker, larger, and more erect, making a short, thin, and up- 

 right mane. Its horns are seven inches long ; they are six inches 

 round at the root ; growing smaller by degrees, they terminate in a 

 b.unt point. The bluntness of these, together with the form of its 

 head and neck, might incline us to suppose it was of the deer kind ; 

 but, as it never sheds its horns, it has a greater affinity to the cow. 



From the disposition of that brought over to this country, which has 

 been very accurately and minutely described by Dr. Hunter, their 

 manners were harmless and gentle. Although in its native wildness 

 it is said to be fierce and vicious, this seemed pleased with every kind 

 of familiarity, and always licked the hand that stroked or gave it bread, 

 and never once attempted to use its horns offensively ; it seemed to 

 have much dependence on its organs of smell, and snuffed keenly, 

 and with noise, whenever any person came within sight ; it did so 



* This quadruped is a species of the antelope ; the horns are inclining to a 

 torn,, and the feet are barred with black and white. 



