* 

 72 THE WHITE URUS. 



quent on the death of Charles L, and the government of 

 Cromwell, they were nearly extirpated. A tradition pre- 

 vails in the country, that, about a hundred years ago, when 

 it was found necessary for a time to remove them from one 

 pasture to another, several hundred individuals, belonging 

 to the different baronies on the ducal estate, were called 

 out, and that they only effected their purpose with much 

 danger and difficulty. Instances are recorded of their 

 having been taken when young, and tamed, and even 

 milked. The milk, like that of most white cattle, is de- 

 scribed as thin and watery. The usual number of ribs is 

 thirteen on each side. Some have been slaughtered with 

 fourteen pair of ribs, but this is exceedingly rare. 



The following is inserted to show in what light an ani- 

 mal designed by the Creator to be useful to man, is re- 

 garded by a people governed by superstition and hea- 

 thenism. 



" The brahminy, or sacred bull of the Hindoos, rambles 

 about the country without interruption ; he is caressed 

 and pampered by the people, to feed him being deemed a 

 meritorious act of religion. In many parts of Bengal, an 

 absurd custom prevails, which frequently occasions much 

 damage to the farmers. When a rich young man dies, 

 and the ceremony in commemoration of ancestors has 

 been performed, a young bull is consecrated, with much 

 solemnity, to Siva, and married to four cows: he is then 

 turned loose, after having been marked : he may then go 

 where he pleases ; and it is not lawful to beat him, even 

 if he be eating a valuable crop, or enter a shop, and there 

 devour the grain exposed for sale. The sufferers shout 

 and make a noise, to drive him away ; but he soon de- 

 spises this vociferation, and eats heartily until he is satis- 

 fied. These consecrated bulls become, in consequence of 

 these free quarters, very fat, and are fine animals to look 

 at, but very destructive. The wives are given away to 

 Brahmins, and he seldom sees them again. The last two 



