THE GOAT. 



A Cashmere Goat. 



Of all animals which are domesticated, those belonging to the family of Goats are the most picturesque 

 in their appearance, the most lively in their manners, and the most hardy in their constitutions. One kind 

 or another of them is found in all parts of the world. In their wild, and even in their domesticated state, 

 they are dwellers upon rocks and mountain-tops, and browse upon the edge of precipices, where few other 

 animals could climb. The Common Goat, which is well known, is not in much request in this country ; 

 but, in some other countries, as in Syria, and Switzerland, herds of Goats are kept for the sake of their 

 milk, and, in fact, almost entirely take the place of the cow. Their milk is reckoned superior in many 

 respects to that of any other animal. 



The Cashmere Goat, the most celebrated variety of the 

 domestic race, is spread through Thibet, and other neighboring 

 countries. From its fleece, which is long, soft, silky, and gene- 

 rally of a snowy whiteness, the costly Cashmere shawls are 

 made. The wool is first combed from the Goats in the moun- 

 tains of Thibet, whence it is sent to Cashmere, and there 

 bleached, spun, and woven into shawls. 



In 1828, a Mr. Tower obtained from the Society of Arts in 

 London their large medal, for having produced a Goat's-hair 

 shawl equal to those of Cashmere, though both the growth and 

 manufacture of England. This gentleman kept his Cashmere 

 Goats on a farm in Essex, and from four first imported, his 

 flock amounted, in a few years, to more than two dozen. 

 Their most common food was furze. 



(132) 



Domestic Goat. 



